2026-07-21 12:03:56

Working from home could shorten lives by stripping millions of people of the everyday exercise they once got from commuting and daily routines, England’s chief medical officer has warned.

Professor Sir Chris Whitty said increasingly sedentary lifestyles are putting long-term health at risk, as new evidence shows that even a short daily walk can dramatically reduce the chances of dying early.

The warning comes as the UK’s four chief medical officers publish updated physical activity guidelines, highlighting the dangers of prolonged sitting, even among people who achieve the recommended 150 minutes of weekly exercise.

Professor Whitty said: “Hybrid working means quite a lot of people could very easily do very little … where previously people would be routinely going to work, and that often meant at least some physical activity.

“Obviously, online shopping is another example where people can actually stay put who previously would have actually gone out to the shops.”

He warned that these modern habits are “accelerating or continuing” the long-term decline in everyday movement.

The updated guidance describes physical activity as a health intervention so powerful that it rivals medicine.

It states: “If physical activity were a drug, we would refer to it as a miracle cure, due to the great many illnesses it can prevent or treat.”

Professor Whitty pointed to research involving 30 million people showing that just 11 minutes of moderate activity a day, such as a brisk walk, is linked to a 23 per cent lower risk of early death.

He urged people to remember that “any activity is better than none, and more is better still”.

The guidance also raises concerns over the growing use of weight-loss jabs and pills, warning that users should include strength training in their weekly routine to avoid losing muscle mass and becoming frail later in life.

Rather than relying solely on gym workouts, experts recommend building movement naturally into the day through walking to the shops, gardening, dancing and household chores.

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