New stats show that white-collar work is working against us.

Office jobs have had their fair share of bad press recently, but now a study has found the situation could be even worse than reported – over a third of office workers spend less than an hour a week on physical exercise.

In a survey commissioned by Age UK and Bupa, findings show that 9% of those who work in an office do absolutely nothing to improve their fitness; spending a paltry 0 minutes on physical exertion each week.

That’s not all. Improving general wellbeing, such as reading and spending time on hobbies, was awarded less than an hour a week. At 48% almost half of respondents are foregoing their weekly fun time.

And it seems we’re also struggling to relax when we’re not in the office. Over half surveyed (52%) said they neglected their mental wellbeing, with no time at all spent on activities like mindfulness and meditation. Worryingly, only 27% made efforts to recognise and manage stress.

But there was some good news – the survey found that some activities to improve general health and wellbeing were being incorporated into workers’ lifestyles.

Ditching the lift and taking the stairs was a popular option, with 53% opting to be more active by tackling the extra flights between floors. Also, visiting friends and family scored high, with 33% doing so weekly.

Fortunately, those surveyed were an informed bunch – it’s now common knowledge, thanks to the media, that sitting at a desk in an office is terribly bad for your health. Participants had been paying attention, with 65% saying they would like to change their current lifestyle in preparation for a healthy later life.

As for those already taking these steps, 64% said that they were doing so to reduce the risk of future health conditions.

Laurie Boult, head of fundraising at Age UK, said: "Research has shown that looking after our mental wellbeing is just as important as protecting our physical health when it comes to ageing.

"While genes have an effect, 75% of the factors that lead to longer life are within our own control, like lifestyle and nutrition. Everyone can take steps to help them age better and it's never too early or too late to start."

The better your general health, the lower your life insurance premiums. Taking small steps can make a big difference over time – you can do so (quite literally!) by heading for the stairs.