EXERCISE LEVELS
The 2007-08 National Health Survey collected data about people's level of exercise. In the two weeks prior to interview, 65% of respondents aged 15 years or over had exercised for fitness, recreation or sport with 36% doing some form of moderate exercise (exercise which caused a moderate increase in heart rate or breathing) and 15% doing vigorous exercise (exercise which caused a large increase in heart rate or breathing).
Males were more likely than females to do moderate exercise (38% compared with 33%) and vigorous exercise (19% compared with 11%).
3.9 Adult exercise levels(a)(b), By sex - 2007-08 |
|
| Males | | Females | | Persons | |
| '000 | % | '000 | % | '000 | % |
|
Sedentary | 2 803.8 | 34.2 | 3 040.2 | 36.1 | 5 844.0 | 35.2 |
Low | 2 769.8 | 33.8 | 3 362.3 | 40.0 | 6 132.2 | 36.9 |
Moderate | 1 918.5 | 23.4 | 1 671.2 | 19.9 | 3 589.8 | 21.6 |
High | 687.0 | 8.4 | 334.6 | 4.0 | 1 021.6 | 6.2 |
Total(c) | 8 187.8 | 100.0 | 8 412.8 | 100.0 | 16 600.6 | 100.0 |
|
(a) Adults aged 15 years and over. |
(b) Exercise undertaken in the two weeks prior to interview. |
(c) Includes persons for whom the level of exercise was not stated. |
Source: National Health Survey: Summary of Results, Australia, 2007-08 (cat. no. 4364.0) |