EVERYONE knows that to be a bit healthier we should watch what we eat and take some exercise.

But shocking figures out from the British Heart Foundation show there are far too many people who are still not heeding this advice.

The charity believes that inactivity is costing health services in East Lancashire around £10.25million every year.

Nationally the problem is costing the NHS £542m.

According to the chief nurse at NHS East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group, being inactive is as bad for a person’s health as smoking, drinking too much alcohol and being overweight.

However, the problem can actually be worse as the damage being done is not always visible.

She believes just going for a walk in the park or putting some music on and having a dance can be beneficial.

Certainly there are plenty of schemes available to get even the most inactive person out and about.

These include exercise on prescription, walking groups and several get active community projects.

So if you are spending too long on your couch each day watching TV, why not just step outside, get some fresh air and do a bit of exercise?