Overview

Regular physical activity and a healthy diet are important factors in maintaining a healthy weight. Ensuring that you get enough exercise is also an important factor in preventing and managing chronic illnesses, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

More reports and statistics on physical activity can be found under Food & nutrition and Overweight & obesity.

Latest findings

17% of 2–5 year olds met the physical activity and screen-based behaviour guidelines on 7 days in 2011–12 Just over half of pregnant women exercised for fitness, usually walking In 2017–18, 23% of adults met the muscle strengthening activity guidelines (22% of women and 25% of men). 1 in 2 adults (55%) did not meet the physical activity guidelines in 2017–18 15% of adults met both the physical activity and muscle strengthening activity guidelines in 2017–18. 12% of children and 2% of adolescents met the physical activity and screen-based behaviour guidelines in 2011–12 Only 3 in 10 pregnant women met the Australian physical activity guideline Two-thirds of pregnant women were active for fewer than 150 minutes per week

Latest reports

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Highlights

1 in 2adults (55%) did not meet the physical activity guidelines in 2017–18
More Indigenous childrenaged 5–17 met the physical activity guideline than non-Indigenous children aged 5–17
1 in 10(12%) children aged 5–12 and only 2% of young people aged 13–17 met both the physical activity and sedentary screen-based behaviour guidelines
17%of adults met both the physical activity and muscle strengthening activity guidelines in 2017–18
2 in 3(70%) children aged 2–17 did not meet the physical activity guideline in 2011–12
Only 3 in 10pregnant women met the Australian physical activity guideline