Birmingham 'is top of the exercise table'

Brummies may be known for many things - notably their distinctive accent - but they have also emerged this month in a new light - as the fittest Brits in the country.

A Bupa UK Health Insurance expert made the revelation, adding that Norwich is the region which has the highest number of people eating healthily.

The findings were made in a survey of Britain’s top 10 cities carried out by Bupa UK Health Insurance, which found that London has the highest proportion of stressed people (50 per cent), while Glasgow has the least (36 per cent).

Manchester worries most about rising crime (64 per cent) and the credit crunch (58 per cent), while Brighton has the highest proportion concerned about family health (69 per cent) but the lowest proportion worried about terrorism (21 per cent).

Perhaps unsurprisingly, London has the highest proportion anxious about job security (36 per cent), while Norwich has the lowest proportion worried about personal health (39 per cent).

What is more, of all the cities surveyed, London has the highest proportion who get less than seven hours (54 per cent).

When it comes to legal substances I.e. drinking and smoking, Brighton has the highest proportion of people who regularly or always drink more than the recommended alcohol limit per week – nearly one in four (23 per cent).

A fifth (21 per cent) of drinkers in Newcastle also exceed the limit to the same extent around a quarter (26 per cent) of people in Glasgow and Newcastle smoke – Manchester has the lowest proportion (11 per cent).

Dr Rebecca Small, assistant medical director for Bupa UK Health Insurance, commented on the research.

She said: "It is a very mixed picture with different cities coming out on top in different areas of health and wellbeing. For instance, when it comes to exercise, Birmingham tops the table, while Norwich has the highest number of people who eat five or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day, and Newcastle comes out on top for dental care.

"Each area has its health strengths and health hotspots."