One in four Indians do not exercise: Survey

One in four Indians do not exercise and of those who do, about half prefer walking over running and swimming, said a health survey released Saturday.

The survey called the Max Bupa Walk for Health Survey was conducted across Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. About 56 percent of the respondents said they liked walking as compared to other physical activities.

"Max Bupa Walk for Health Survey is an insight into people's attitude towards walking and shows that regular walking induces positive social and behavioural change among people. It also enhances their productivity and encourages them to lead a healthier lifestyle," said Manasije Mishra, Max Bupa chief executive officer.

The survey revealed that 42 percent of the total respondents across the three cities expressed the desire to remain healthy.

While 34 percent cited health conditions like blood pressure and heart problems as key reasons to take up walking, 24 percent started walking after the doctor's advice.

"The survey also shows the increasing use of phone based applications and devices for walking. In general, the younger population between 25 to 30 years was found to be the most tech savvy. The tech savvy people are more health aware and spend time watching health related content on channels," added Mishra.