Now is the time to understand the importance of physical activity, says Bear Grylls

LET’S make health and fitness our No1 priority this autumn, starting tomorrow on National Fitness Day.

It is now more important than ever to get active, as our normal lives are almost over.

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It has been a difficult and stressful year for so many with the global pandemic, but we have seen physical activity helping millions to find a connection and stay strong, both physically and mentally.

A recent World Obesity Federation report shows that hundreds of thousands of deaths from coronavirus could have been prevented if obesity rates had been lower.

Research showed that Covid-19 death rates were ten times higher for countries with 50 percent or more overweight people.

The UK has had one of the highest coronavirus death rates – and also has the fourth-highest rate of obesity in the world.

This is no accident and it is an alarming sign that the world needs to pay attention.

The main driver of tomorrow’s National Fitness Day – which is now in its tenth year – is to ensure everyone has the opportunity and access to be more active, whether that’s in the great outdoors, through local fitness and leisure facilities, at school, in the workplace or with an online workout at home.

We want everyone to be able to try something new, and to make a positive difference in their lives.

For my part, I’m working with the company I co-own, Be Military Fit. We’re a military veteran-owned and run firm that organises outdoor, military-style workouts.

Free fitness sessions will be offered at various venues throughout the country starting tomorrow and continuing through the week to people of all abilities.

National Fitness Day saw 19.1 million people get active and work out in the UK last year. It was amazing to see so much people working out with their friends and at no cost events.

Let’s ensure National Fitness Day 2021 is a trigger to make exercise part of your lifestyle every single day. And let’s make this year’s event bigger than ever, smashing the record books once again.