EXERCISE LEVELS
The ABS 2007-2008 ABS National Health Survey collected data about people's level of exercise. The findings of the survey have been summarised in the ABS (2009c) publication National Health Survey: Summary of Results, 2007-2008 (cat. no. 4364.0).
In the two weeks prior to interview, 22% of respondents aged 15 years or over had been involved in some form of moderate exercise (exercise which caused a moderate increase in heart rate or breathing) and 6% were doing vigorous exercise (exercise which caused a large increase in heart rate or breathing).
More women than men had low exercise levels (39% and 33% respectively). Men were more likely than women to do moderate exercise (24% compared with 20%) and vigorous exercise (9% compared with 4%).
3.9 Adult exercise levels(a)(b), By sex - 2007-2008 |
|
| Males | | Females | | Persons | |
Level of exercise | '000 | % | '000 | % | '000 | % |
|
Sedentary | 2 803.8 | 34.2 | 3 040.2 | 36.1 | 5 844.0 | 35.2 |
Low | 2 726.3 | 33.3 | 3 316.7 | 39.4 | 6 043.1 | 36.4 |
Moderate | 1 945.4 | 23.8 | 1 707.1 | 20.3 | 3 652.5 | 22.0 |
High | 703.6 | 8.6 | 344.4 | 4.1 | 1 048.0 | 6.3 |
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, 2007-2008 (cat. no. 4364.0) Revised data released 23 November 2010. |