Increasing physical activity levels by just one per cent a year would save the UK economy £1.2bn over the next five years, according to a new report from industry body ukactive.

Turning the tide of inactivity combines data analysis with public spending figures obtained under the freedom of information act (FOI) to produce an overview of the challenges faced in combating inactivity.

FOI figures show English local authorities will spend only £30m tackling inactivity in 2013/14, against £637m (2,000 per cent more) spent on sexual health. This is a mismatch when costs are compared, as the most recent estimate - by Professor Kevin Fenton of Public Health England - suggests inactivity costs £10bn a year, while the Family Planning Association estimates costs for sexual health at £12.05bn.

The report defines inactivity as carrying out fewer than 30 minutes of at least moderate intensity physical activity in bouts of 10 minutes or more in the previous 28 days.

It highlights the impact of socioeconomic status, finding that in the most deprived areas, one in three people fail to raise their heartbeat for just 30 minutes a month, compared to one in four in the most affluent.

The most deprived local authorities account for 13 of the 15 least active areas in England. These areas see an extra 100 premature deaths per 100,000 people a year compared to the 15 most active areas, which are predominantly affluent.

“Our report shows people in deprived areas are more likely to suffer a premature death because of lack of physical activity,” says ukactive chairman Fred Turok.

Affluent areas have more than double the number of leisure facilities per 100,000 when compared with the most deprived, while areas with the lowest levels of activity have a third fewer leisure facilities per person.

However, the report says that providing more facilities isn’t always the answer – in some cases fewer, high quality, well-designed leisure facilities have been effective in driving up activity levels.

Sebastian Coe, prime ministerial legacy ambassador and former chair of LOCOG, said: “I welcome this vital report. Physical inactivity accounts for nearly 20 per cent of premature deaths in the UK and with projections showing inactivity levels will increase by 15 per cent by 2030, the issue requires immediate national attention and urgent action.”

ukactive has called on the government deliver a cross party national strategy to tackle inactivity and says local authorities should invest in targeted inactivity interventions in line with other top-tier health concerns, such as alcohol misuse and smoking. It also urges operators to shift their focus towards engaging with inactive people.

Download the report here.

Writing in the 2014 edition of the Health Club Management Handbook, ukactive CEO David Stalker said: “2014 is the year organisations within our industry must decide whether they want to truly make an impact on the health of the nation and play a recognised role as part of the health sector. This means that championing our long heralded goal of ‘more people, more active, more often’ will not be enough. It is time to go further by getting more specific.” Read more here.

Writing in Sports Management magazine, editor Liz Terry says inactivity will cost the nation £50bn a year by 2050. Read more here.