There are many advantages to being single (although the dating websites might not like you to think there are any!). One of the top advantages is that singletons are more likely to be fit. Research shows that people who are NOT married are more likely to exercise.

A survey, commissioned by the Department of Health, found that married folks are far less likely to take the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week when compared to single people or divorcees.

More revealing are the statistics for married couples. Of those who did less than the recommended amount of exercise, 76% of the men and 63% of the women were married. This compares to people who are single or divorced: With only 24% of men and 33% of women failing to reach the minimum guidelines on exercise.

Further academic research also shows that married couples are twice as likely to be obese than singletons.

How to change the health statistics for the better?

Married people tend to be older and more likely to have children so their opportunities for exercise are more limited. However, if you’re clever at timetabling and make best use of your weekends there should be few excuses for getting the right amount of exercise.

Sit down each week with your partner and work out when each of you can enjoy a few hours away form the house to keep fit. With a little juggling and commonsense timetabling this should be possible.

Make the most of weekends for outdoor activities with your family. Walking and cycling are great activities for all the family. Or try swimming. When you’re at the pool, parents could take it in turns to look after the kids and head off to the laned swimming section for 10 minutes of lap swimming.

Another reason why couples are more likely to be overweight is the theory that husbands and wives “let themselves go” as they enjoy more comfortable lifestyles, spending more time in front of the television and having sex less frequently than singletons.

If this describes you, then perhaps it’s time to make a pact with you partner to enjoy more exercise time together. Before sitting down to watch the TV all evening head out for a brisk walk together or plan to go cycling as a pair at the weekends.

Make exercise short but regular

Doing a little bit of physical activity more regularly and each day offers huge benefits. It’s possible for people to achieve their 150 active minutes a week in sessions of just 10 minutes or more.

Ideas for 10 minutes of exercise

Cycle the children to school

Walk and talk with a friend

Walk briskly to the shops

Dig the garden

Take up jogging by joining a beginners’ group of likeminded people

Cycle to the shops with a rucksack for the food

Play football in the garden with the kids

Jump on your children’s trampoline

Hoover the house