THE number of adults in North Wales who exercise has dropped to roughly 10 per cent less than the country’s average, a new report has stated.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s director of public health, Jane Moore, has compiled her annual report, to be considered at a meeting at Venue Cymru, Llandudno on November 28.

In 2022-23, the report states, only 45.8 per cent of adults in North Wales met the physical activity guidelines issued by the chief medical officer of the UK, compared to 52.6 per cent in 2021-22.

This is described as being “significantly lower than the Welsh average” in this regard, which is 55.4 per cent.

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The North Wales county with the lowest percentage was Conwy (39.4 per cent), with the highest being in Denbighshire (54.9 per cent).

Elsewhere, Wrexham recorded 50.7 per cent, Flintshire 47.6 per cent, Gwynedd 45.1 per cent, and Anglesey 39.5 per cent.

Meanwhile, 35 per cent of adults in North Wales reported being inactive (doing less than 30 minutes a week of physical activity), compared to 30 per cent for the whole of the country.

Those aged 11-16 in North Wales who completed at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily for the previous seven days also fell from 18.7 per cent in 2017 to 16.5 per cent in 2021.

Ms Moore wrote in her report: “The data for North Wales continues to show inequalities in health outcomes for those living in the poorest communities.

“Accessibility to services, the capability and motivations of individuals and groups, and the wider determinants of health such as the physical environment, housing, employment and cost of living pressures are all factors that play a part in health and wellbeing outcomes.

“There are also disparities with certain groups being less able than others to access physical activity opportunities, including people who share the protected characteristics as defined by the Public Sector Equality Duty.

“However, it is encouraging that an increasing proportion of physical activity opportunities are becoming more accessible for all, with many being free and locally available, in particular being active in nature. In order to continue to build on this approach, it is important to create the conditions to support sustainable and equitable access to physical activity opportunities.

“This requires a multifaceted and joined-up approach between organisations and locally across North Wales, with partners making a significant contribution so that being active is the norm, regardless of age, gender or background.”

Ms Moore added that the “North Wales on the Move” programme is aiming to address these issues.

The programme looks to foster environments that encourage movement and being more active, such as with more cycling and walking routes, green and blue spaces, and safer streets.

She added: “Sadly, opportunities for movement are being designed out of everyday life.

“Increased reliance on car travel, increased screen time, a lack of safe and accessible placed to play, sedentary work occupations, urbanisation of town and city centres, the cost-of-living crisis, poverty and cultural  norms are just some of the complex factors which have contributed to rising inactivity levels in our population.

“We must act now to design movement back into our places and spaces.”