MOSCOW, Jan 30 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin, often portrayed as a sports-loving action man, urged Russians on Wednesday to follow his lead and improve their health by getting more active.

Putin, who is frequently seen on television skiing and practising judo, told a Kremlin meeting of the State Council presidential advisory body that physical exercise was vital to the health of the nation.

He said the Kremlin was keen to promote physical activity in Russia, and that sport was essential to "the quality of life of Russian citizens, their social and psychological well-being and also their physical health."

Putin's drive to take the nation's health in hand is reminiscent of broad social campaigns conducted during Soviet days. The last of these was former leader Mikhail Gorbachev's failed anti-alcohol drive in the 1980s.

But in a nation where smokers are welcome almost anywhere and it is not unusual to see commuters cracking open a beer on their way to work on the metro, sports-loving officials may have their work cut out.

While Russian athletes are world-renowned in skating, ice hockey, swimming, gymnastics and track and field, Putin said only 10% of the population were active in sport.

Official figures show that the average Russian can expect to live around 65.5 years, compared with over 76 years in the United States. Smoking, alcohol and poor healthcare are seen as the main culprits.

"We have an unforgivably low life expectancy," he said.

Putin said sport had always held a special place in Russian life, but in recent years it had declined due in part to a lack of funding and facilities.

He said the number of sports centres in the country had fallen about 20% since 1991, and that Russia's elite athletes had turned elsewhere for top-notch facilities.

"It is not a secret that for many years our (top) athletes have gone to train abroad," Putin said.

He added that illness in children had risen by more than 24% in the last 2 years, by 32% in adolescents, and 13% in adults.

From Reutershealth.com