Camden is the most active borough in London with 77.4% of adults meeting the recommended 150-plus minutes of physical activity per week, data from London Sport shows.
This is substantially greater than the average of 63.7% across England.
This data also shows a large disparity across London, with the borough of Havering the least active at 52.9%.
London Sport CEO Emily Robinson said: “These disparities matter.
“Physical inactivity is a major contributing factor to chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, depression, and anxiety.
“Some people in London are living up to 12 years longer in good health than others, and in less active boroughs residents face not only a higher risk of illness but also reduced mental wellbeing and life satisfaction.
“These findings highlight why targeted local action and collaboration are so important in tackling inequalities and unlocking the full benefits of physical activity for Londoners.”
Other London boroughs also exceed the national average, with Richmond upon Thames, Islington, and Wandsworth all reporting activity levels above 70%.
This suggests access to green spaces, active transport options, and community programmes may be contributing factors.
Alongside Havering, boroughs such as Barking and Dagenham and Newham also fall significantly below the England average.
This points to broader systemic challenges around affordability, as these boroughs consistently come out as some of London’s poorest.
Sport England chief strategy officer Nick Pontefract said: “For too many people, the barriers to getting active are still too high.
“If you are less affluent, or live in a less affluent place, you are much less likely to be active.
“The same is true if you have a disability or long-term health condition, and women’s activity levels are still lower than men’s.”
Featured image credit: iStock – Jonathan Wilson
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