PARIS: Many people living in the European Union fail to exercise sufficiently, leading to more than 10,000 premature deaths annually, reported the German Press Agency (dpa), quoting the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on Friday.

More than a third of EU residents do not reach the level of exercise recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) of 150 minutes of moderate to intensive exercise weekly, the OECD said from its Paris headquarters on the basis of a survey.

If Europe's couch potatoes heeded the WHO's advice, not only would more than 10,000 premature deaths be prevented but the average EU life expectancy could rise by two months, the organisation said.

Regular movement is one of the most important things one can do for both mind and body, the agency said. Exercise can prevent diabetes and certain cancers, among other ailments.

The study found that 3.5 million cases of depression and 3.8 million cases of cardiovascular disease could be prevented by 2050 if people exercised for 150 minutes per week.

It found that only 40 per cent of people regularly exercise, with a wide variation among countries. While two thirds of adult Finns regularly exercise, the figure drops to one in five in other countries.

Women exercise less than men, with this particularly evident in younger age groups. Some 73 per cent of men aged 15 to 24 exercise at least once a week, against just 58 per cent of women.

-- BERNAMA