Physical inactivity
Definition: The proportion of adults who did not participate in sufficient regular physical activity to gain a health benefit.
Australia’s Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for Adults (18–64 years) (Department of Health 2017b) recommend that adults be active on most, preferably all, days every week; accumulate 150 to 300 minutes (2½ to 5 hours) of moderate intensity physical activity or 75 to 150 minutes (1 ¼ to 2 ½ hours) of vigorous intensity physical activity, or an equivalent combination of both moderate and vigorous activities, each week; and do muscle strengthening activities on at least 2 days each week. For this indicator, insufficient physical activity for 18 to 64 year olds is measured as those completing less than 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity, across 5 sessions per week.
The Physical Activity Recommendations for Older Australians (65 years and older) (Department of Health 2017b) recommend that older people should be active every day in as many ways as possible, doing a range of physical activities that incorporate fitness, strength, balance and flexibility; and should accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on most, preferably all, days. For this indicator, insufficient physical activity for people aged 65 and over is measured as those completing less than 5 days of 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity activity per week.
Source: ABS 2016f; Table S1.4.16.
- 56% of all adults in 2014–15 were not sufficiently physically active.
- In 2014–15, 52% of adults aged 18–64 were not sufficiently active (ABS 2015d). Among females in this age group, the proportion that was not sufficiently active was 54%; for males, the proportion that was not sufficiently active was 51%.
- Among people aged 65 and over, 75% were not sufficiently active in 2014–15. Among females in this age group, 77% were not sufficiently active; for males, 74% were not sufficiently active.
- Nearly two-thirds (63%) of people living in the lowest socioeconomic areas were not sufficiently physically active, as were 40% of people living in the highest socioeconomic areas.
- 76% of people aged 18–64 did not do muscle strengthening activities on at least 2 days per week in 2014–15.
For more information, see Chapter 4.8 'Insufficient physical activity'.