Blame it on the bad weather, a working culture that demands long hours or just plain laziness, but too many Scots are not doing the proper amount of exercise, a new survey has revealed.

In fact, according to the British Heart Foundation, who commissioned the new survey, one in five Scots say they never exercise at all. Some 17% of respondents say they haven’t done any regular exercise in the last decade and nearly a quarter said that nothing could motivate them to get active.

The survey’s findings reveal a nation that appears more than happy to be indolent. Some 46% of Scots have not been running in the past year, not even for a bus. And 24% of survey respondents say that nothing could motivate them to exercise.

Some 39% of Scots blame the weather for their reluctance to exercise and a quarter of them point to having to work long hours, but 43% of the population admit that they're just lazy.

The figures come as the British Health Foundation launched its 2016 event series which seeks to encourage people to take part in cycling, swimming and walking challenges to encourage people to exercise and raise money for charity. In Scotland it is putting on a 100km overnight walking challenge between Glasgow and Edinburgh in July. Prior to that it is running a series of less challenging 5k and 10k series.

And the Foundation is keen to make Scots aware that medics believe people should commit themselves to a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity each week. At the moment only 10% of Scots are aware of this figure and more than half of Scots believe that 20 minutes exercise three times a week will suffice.

Responding to the survey’s findings, Lisa Young, a Physical Activity Specialist at the BHF, said: “I’m not surprised to learn just how little awareness there is around the recommended minimum amount of exercise people should aim for every week. However it is very concerning that a fifth of Scots never exercise and over four in ten simply blame it on their own laziness.”

“Physical activity is essential for your heart health and should not be ignored,” she added. “Not only can keeping fit help reduce your risk of heart disease, it can help you control your weight, reduce blood pressure and improve your mental health.”

Among those Scots who do take regular exercise swimming is the most popular activity for 40% of the respondents, followed by cycling (33%) and running (30%).

For more information on the British Heart Foundation’s event series visit bhf.org.uk/get-involved