Simple living by the seashore boosts physical activity, according to a recent study.

Researchers from the University of Exeter found that people who live close to the coast are more likely to meet physical activity guidelines than inland dwellers. The study involved participants from across England and describes a particularly noticeable effect on western -- but unexpectedly not eastern -- coasts of the nation.

"It's clear that our coastal paths and beaches provide a wonderful resource for encouraging and enabling physical activity," Mathew White, lead author of the study, said in a statement.

For the study, researchers analyzed data from more than 180,000 people. They examined the amount of exercise people get through leisure activities as well as simply getting around.

Their findings show that visiting the coast, rather than just living near it, is crucial in stimulating physical activity.

However, when the researchers broke down the national pattern by region they found that this effect was present in the northwest and southwest of the country but not in any of the east coast regions.

"Participants reported a number of activities from simply walking to more obvious exercise such as swimming or running," White said. "However, we're unsure why we're only seeing these effects in western regions of the country. Of course, people in the east also exercise but it doesn't seem to be so connected to coastal activities. We might have uncovered untapped potential for east coast resorts and destinations to be used to encourage exercise and promote healthy lifestyles."

The researchers also took into account differences in factors such as age, social status and season, none of which could account for the regional differences in their findings.

Regular exercise can lower the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and depression and plays an important role in keeping people healthy. Current guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week.

The findings were published in the journal Preventive Medicine.