Physical Activity

In 2010, 39% of adults aged 16 and over met the physical activity recommendations. Men were more likely to meet them than women (45% compared with 33%). There was no significant change in the proportions meeting the recommendations between 2008 and 2010.
The proportions of men and women meeting the recommended activity levels varied significantly with age. Among men, the proportions meeting the recommendations fell from 66% of those aged 16-24 to 10% of those aged 75 and over. Among women, the proportion meeting the recommendations increased with age until 35-44 (45%), before declining to 7% of women aged 75 and over.
44% of adults had participated in sporting activities in the previous four weeks. Sports participation decreased with age from 68% of those aged 16-24 to 13% of those aged 75 and over.
The most common sporting activities for adults were working out at a gym/exercise bike/weight training (15%), doing exercises ( e.g. press-ups, sit ups) (14%), swimming (12%) and running/jogging (11%).
Men were more likely than women to have been running/jogging (15% versus 7%), played football/rugby (14% versus 1%), or to have been cycling (13% versus 6%). Women were more likely than men to participate in an aerobics/keep fit/dance class (13% versus 5%) or any other kind of dancing (8% versus 4%).
In 1998, 65% of children aged 2-15 were physically active at the recommended level (excluding school-based activity, which was not measured prior to 2008). This increased to 69% in 2003, but has been 64%-65% from 2008 onwards.
In 2010, 72% of children (75% of boys and 70% of girls) met the physical activity recommendations including school-based activity. Although there was little change for boys between 2008 and 2010, the proportion of girls meeting the recommendations appears to have increased from 64% in 2008.
In 2010, between 70% and 84% of children aged 2-12 were active at the recommended level (including school based activity), compared with 62% of those aged 13-15. This decline with age was only apparent in girls (48% of those aged 13-15 met the recommendations compared with 75% of boys).