Young adults only walk five minutes a day 'because of technology' Both fall short of the 30 minutes a day suggested by the British Heart Foundation. Women were shown to be more likely to create excuses to get out of walking, with their top reasons being poor weather and feeling too tired. Men generally blamed their hectic schedules and lack of time. Dr Paula Franklin, UK Medical Director at Bupa, said: "It's so easy to make numerous excuses but there are many health benefits to walking. For most people it is the most accessible form of physical activity, which is also free and can be great fun. Walking can usually fit easily into your daily routine and something as simple as choosing to walk even part of the way to work instead of taking the car or bus can have a huge impact on your health. For example, adding just 20 minutes walking to your day can dramatically reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, which includes heart disease and strokes. Top 5 excuses for not walking: Poor weather (31 per cent) I don't have enough time (26 per cent) My lack of fitness (12 per cent) I don't feel safe (11 per cent) I generally feel too tired (11 per cent)