Editor: Justin Healey
ISBN 978 1 920801 73 1
Year 2007

Price: $19.95

  
Physical Activity

Volume 263, Issues in Society
Physical activity is defined by the World Health Organisation as "all movements in everyday life, including work, recreation, exercise and sporting activities". It can be structured or unstructured, planned or incidental. Research indicates that significant health benefits can be achieved by including a moderate amount of physical activity (30 minutes) 5 days a week. Physical activity is ranked second only to tobacco control in being the most important factor in health promotion and disease prevention in Australia. Data from the 2000 National Physical Activity Survey showed that over 7 million Australians aged 18-75 years (54%) did not undertake sufficient physical activity to obtain a health benefit. Over 2 million of these (15% of people aged 18-75 years) were sedentary, that is they did no physical activity in their leisure time. The health, social and economic costs of physical inactivity are incalculable. In light of the obesity and diabetes epidemics and an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, what can Australians do to maximise their physical activity and thereby minimise their exposure to ill health?


Chapter 1: Participation in Physical Activity
Physical activity: National physical activity guidelines for Australians; Physical activity in Australia; Achieving better health through physical activity; Sedentary life joins smoking in list of ills; The evolution of physical inactivity; Children's participation in organised sport; How to get the kids to be more active; Healthy ageing – stay physically active.

Chapter 2: Approaches to Exercise
Physical activity – what's right for you?; 12 exercise mistakes to avoid; How to be active regularly; Plan your activity NOW; An active way to better health – national physical activity guidelines for adults: Get out and get active – Australia's physical activity recommendations for 12-18 year olds: Active kids are healthy kids – physical activity recommendations for 5-12 year olds; Beat those exercise excuses; Running and jogging; Walking; Be active safely; Physical activity – how to stay motivated.

Glossary; Facts and Figures; Additional Links and Resources; Index of Contentsnt
 

Facts and Figures

• Regular physical activity reduces cardiovascular risk by decreasing levels of over-weight, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, all cardiovascular risk factors. It also helps protect against some forms of cancer, reduces the likelihood of osteoporosis and improves mental wellbeing.

• 54% of Australian adults are not doing enough physical activity to achieve health benefits.

• Globally, 60% of people don’t achieve the minimum recommendation of 30 minutes moderate-intensity physical activity daily. Among adults, 17% are est-imated to be inactive whilst nationally, 30.4% of Australian adults have been found to be inactive; with rates slightly higher amongst females (31.2%) than males (29.6%).

• Society has changed rapidly over the years, with labour-saving devices, technology and passive forms of entertainment contributing to lifestyles that are increasingly sedentary. Increased car ownership has led to increased traffic and greater safety concerns have led to less walking and cycling to school and work.

• Globally, in 2002 it was estimated that 1.9 million deaths among people aged 15 years and over were attributable to physical inactivity, and that physical inactivity contributed to 10-16% of global cases of breast, colon and rectal cancers and diabetes mellitus, and about 22% of ischaemic heart disease.

• Regular physical activity decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly coronary heart disease, with studies showing that you are twice as likely to have a heart attack if you don’t take part in moderate to intense physical activity.

• Weight-bearing exercises such as walking, running and weight training strengthen the musculoskeletal system, which can decrease the likelihood of develop-ing osteoporosis and, in the elderly especially, lessen the risk of having a fall.

• People who participate in sports or other types of physical activity at an early age, and especially during adolescence, are much more likely to be physically active adults.

• Suitable regular daily physical activity is a major factor in preventing chronic diseases and can provide a wide range of physical, social and mental health benefits.

• Physical inactivity was the fourth leading cause of burden of disease in Australia. It is estimated that physical inactivity is responsible for approximately 7% of the total burden of disease and injury for all Australians (6% of total for males and 7% of total for females).

• In 2004-05, 70% of Australians aged 15 years and over were classified as sedentary or having low exercise levels. Of these, just under half (48%) recorded no or very little exercise in the previous two weeks (sedentary exercise level) and 52% recorded a low level of exercise.

• People aged 15 years and over who were sedentary or exercised at low levels were more likely to be classified as obese (20%) than people who exercised at moderate or high levels (13%).

• Globally, physical inactivity is estimated to cause two million deaths per year, representing an estimated 10-16% of cases each of breast cancer, colon cancers, and diabetes, and about 22% of ischaemic heart disease cases.

• In Australia, physical inactivity contributes to the risk of 6,400 deaths per annum from coronary heart disease, non-insulin dependant diabetes mellitus and colon cancer, and up to 2,200 more due to other conditions, including breast cancer and stroke.

• Based on analysis of 1996 mortality and morbidity statistics, the annual direct health care costs attributable to physical inactivity was around $377 million per year. For each disease, costs were estimated to be $161 million for coronary heart disease, $28 million for non-insulin dependant diabetes mellitus, $16 million for colon cancer, $101 million for stroke, $16 million for breast cancer, and up to $56 million for depressive disorders.

• In 2004-05, 30% of those aged 15 years and over reported exercising at moderate or high levels. Of these, 78% were classified as having a moderate exercise level, and 22% were classified as having a high exercise level, based on reported activity in the previous two weeks.

• Regular practice of physical activity helps children and young people to build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints, helps control body weight, helps reduce fat and develop efficient function of the heart and lungs.

• In the 12 months to April 2006, 64% of children aged 5-14 years participated in sport, outside of school hours, which had been organised by a school, club or association. This was an increase of two percentage points in the rate of participation from 2003.

• Children who were involved in organised sport spent an average of six hours on sport per school fortnight. The most popular sport participated in by children was swimming, with a participation rate of 17%, followed by outdoor soccer (13%).

• Children spent an average of 20 hours over a school fortnight in the 12 months to April 2006 watching tele-vision, videos or DVDs and also spent an average of eight hours playing electronic or computer games.