Published 26 Jun, 2024

Physical activity has significant benefits for health, both physical and mental.1 Regular participation in physical activity can reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.2-4

There is strong evidence that higher levels of physical activity are linked to lower risk of several types of cancer, such as cancers of the lung, pancreas, prostate, ovaries, thyroid, liver, and rectum.5-9 

Charts

Physical activity has significant benefits for health, both physical and mental.1 Regular participation in physical activity can reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.2-4

There is strong evidence that higher levels of physical activity are linked to lower risk of several types of cancer, such as cancers of the lung, pancreas, prostate, ovaries, thyroid, liver, and rectum.5-9 In 2018 in Australia, physical inactivity contributed an estimated 2.5% DALY (Disability-adjusted life years) of the total burden of disease, 20% of type 2 diabetes burden, 16% of the uterine cancer burden, 12% of the bowel cancer burden, and 3% of the breast cancer burden.10

Australia has national guidelines that are evidence-based which indicate the minimum levels of physical activity required by each age groups for health benefit.11 The guidelines recommend that adults aged 18-64 years should be active on most days, preferably every day. Each week, adults should engage in either 2.5 to 5 hours of moderate intensity physical activity (e.g., a brisk walk, golf, mowing the lawn or swimming) or 1.25 to 2.5 hours of vigorous intensity physical activity (e.g., engaging in jogging, aerobics, fast cycling, soccer or netball) or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous activities.

In 2022, 75.2% peopled aged 18 years and over, and 77.6% people aged 18-64 years, were reported not to meet physical activity guidelines. Women appeared more likely than men to not meet the physical activity guidelines (77.8% compared to 72.7%).12

The proportion not meeting physical activity guidelines increased with age in people aged 18-64 years, with the lowest proportion not meeting these guidelines applying to aged 18-24 years (68.8%). That proportion increased to about 84.1 in the 55-64-year age range.11 More than two in three (66.5%) people aged 65 years and over were reported to not be meeting physical activity guidelines in 2022.12

 

Remoteness and socioeconomic disadvantage

In 2022, adults in Outer regional and Remote areas (excluding very remote areas) appeared marginally more likely not to meet physical activity guidelines than those living in Major cities and in Inner regional areas (79.8% vs 74.9% and 74.1%, respectively).12

A social gradient of insufficient physical activity was observed in 2022. People living in areas of most disadvantage were the most unlikely to meet physical activity guidelines (78.7% and 78.8% in SES1&2), followed by those in SES3 (75.2%) and SES4 (73.2%), and with 70.6% of those living in the least disadvantage areas were the least not meeting the guideline.12 

This measure indicates the proportion of adults aged 18 years and over who did not meet the physical activity guidelines (see Australia’s Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines 2014). This measure was assessed against respective age groups presenting in the National Health Survey (NHS) data. Since 2017-18, the NHS data report for physical activity has included the proportion of people reported meeting or not meeting the 2014 Physical Activity Guidelines. Physical activity comprised of exercise and workplace activity. 

Numerator: Number of persons aged 18 years and over who did not meet the physical activity guidelines

Denominator: Number of persons aged 18 years and over including those who reported ‘Not stated/Not known’.

2014 Physical activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines11

The following table outlines the recommendations included in the Guidelines for persons aged 

Recommendations

Ages 18 to 64 years 

Ages 65 years and over 

Physical activity

Be active on most (preferably all) days, with a weekly total of 2.5 to 5 hours of moderate activity or 1.25 to 2.5 hours of vigorous activity or an equivalent combination of both

At least 30 minutes of moderate activity on most (preferably all) days.

Strength

At least 2 days a week.

Engage in a range of activities that incorporate fitness, strength, balance and flexibility.

 

Methodology

The 2022 National Health Survey (NHS) is considered to be comparable to the 2017-18 NHS and previous cycles. The 2020–21 NHS data should be considered a break in time series from previous NHS collections and used for point-in-time national analysis only. The survey was implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic with a significantly changed process for data collection. 

Changes to the 2022 NHS compared to the 2017-18 NHS in physical activity questions,16 included:

  • Major updates to the question module to improve respondent experience and accuracy of reporting.
  • Amount of time spent on physical activity collected for each individual day of the last week, rather than just the total amount for the last week.
  • New physical activity day level (output data level), with daily timing data for types of physical activity each day.

Remoteness

The Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3 was used to allocate participants to a remoteness area based on their area of usual residence.17 Data for 2004-05 used the 2001 ASGC, 2011-12 used the 2006 ASGC, 2014-15 data used the 2011 ASGC, and 2017-18, 2020-21 and 21-22 data used the ASGS 2016.

Socioeconomic status

The 2016 Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) Index for Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage was used to allocate participants to a SEIFA quintile based on their usual residence.18 For 2004-05 data, the 2004-05 IRSD was used, for 2011-12 and 2014-15 data the 2011 IRSD was used, and for 2017-18, 2020-21 and 21-22 data, the 2016 IRSD was used.

Data for socioeconomic status and remoteness are available for persons in general for 2022. (note: not yet available by sex)

 

Data sources

ABS National Health Survey in 2007-08, 2011-12, 2014-15, 2017-18, 2020-21 and 2022

ABS 2018-19 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey

Data:

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2021. Australian Burden of Disease Study 2018: Interactive data on risk factor burden. Accessed May 2024; https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/burden-of-disease/abds-2018-interactive-data-risk-factors/contents/physical-inactivity

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2023. Cat number 4364.0.00.015. Physical Activity NHS 2022. Accessed May 2024; https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/physical-activity/latest-release#key-statistics

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2018. Cat number 4364.0.55.001. Physical Activity. NHS 2017-18. Accessed May 2024; https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/physical-activity/2017-18

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2022. Cat number 4364.0.00.015. Physical Activity. NHS 2020-21. Accessed May 2024; https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/physical-activity/2020-21

Australian Bureau of Statistics. National Health Survey 

https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/national-health-survey

 

Policy:

Australian Government. Department of Health and Aged Care. Physical activity and exercise guidelines for all Australians. Accessed May 2024; https://www.health.gov.au/topics/physical-activity-and-exercise/physical-activity-and-exercise-guidelines-for-all-australians#summary-by-age

 

References

  1. WHO 2022. Physical Activity; https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity
  2. Wilmot EG, Edwardson CL, Achana FA, et al. Sedentary time in adults and the association with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and death: systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetologia. 2012 Nov;55(11):2895-905.
  3. Warburton DE, Nicol CW, Bredin SS. Health benefits of physical activity: the evidence. CMAJ. 2006 Mar 14;174(6):801-9.
  4. Dhuli K, Naureen Z, Medori MC, et al. Physical activity for health. J Prev Med Hyg. 2022 Oct 17;63(2 Suppl 3):E150-E159.
  5. Sims J, Hill K, Hunt S, et al. National physical activity recommendations for older Australians: Discussion document. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing:1-164. Accessed May 2024;  https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/05/national-physical-activity-recommendations-for-older-australians-discussion-document.pdf
  6. McTiernan A, Friedenreich CM, Katzmarzyk PT, et al. Physical activity in cancer prevention and survival: A systematic review. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 2019; 51(6):1252-1261. 
  7. Rezende LFM, Sá TH, Markozannes G, et al. Physical activity and cancer: an umbrella review of the literature including 22 major anatomical sites and 770 000 cancer cases. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2018; 52(13):826-833. 
  8. Patel AV, Friedenreich CM, Moore SC, et al. American College of Sports Medicine Roundtable Report on physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and cancer prevention and control. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 2019; 51(11):2391-2402. 
  9. Moore SC, Lee IM, Weiderpass E, et al. Association of leisure-time physical activity with risk of 26 types of cancer in 1.44 million adults. JAMA Internal Medicine 2016; 176(6):816-825.
  10. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2021. Australian Burden of Disease Study 2018: Interactive data on risk factor burden. Accessed May 2024; https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/burden-of-disease/abds-2018-interactive-data-risk-factors/contents/physical-inactivity
  11. Australian Government. Department of Health and Aged Care. Physical activity and exercise guidelines for all Australians. Accessed May 2024; https://www.health.gov.au/topics/physical-activity-and-exercise/physical-activity-and-exercise-guidelines-for-all-australians#summary-by-age
  12. Australian Bureau of Statistics 2023. Cat number 4364.0.00.015. Physical Activity NHS 2022. Accessed May 2024; https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/physical-activity/latest-release#key-statistics
  13. Australian Bureau of Statistics 2018. Cat number 4364.0.55.001. Physical Activity. NHS 2017-18. Accessed May 2024; https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/physical-activity/2017-18
  14. Australian Bureau of Statistics 2018. Web report Cat. no: PHE 248. Insufficient physical activity. Accessed May 2024; https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/d18c1829-050e-4ff3-a033-aed68ff64dbc/aihw-aus-234-insufficient-physical-activity-archived-version-2017-18.pdf.aspx
  15. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2023. Web article. Physical Activity. Accessed May 2024; https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/physical-activity/physical-activity
  16. Australian Bureau of Statistics. National Health Survey methodology. Accessed May 2024; https://www.abs.gov.au/methodologies/national-health-survey-methodology/2022#summary-of-content-changes
  17. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Remoteness Areas. Accessed May 2024; https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/standards/australian-statistical-geography-standard-asgs-edition-3/jul2021-jun2026/remoteness-structure/remoteness-areas
  18. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Socioeconomic Indexes for areas (SEIFA) 2016. Accessed May 2024; https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/2033.0.55.001

Summary

In 2022, three quarters (75.2%) of people aged 18 years and over, and 76.1% of people aged 15 years and over, were reported not to meet physical activity guidelines.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were more likely to be insufficiently active than non-Indigenous people.

People aged 18 years and over living in Outer Regional and Remote areas (excluding very remote areas) appeared marginally more likely than those in Major Cities to not meet physical activity guidelines

(79.8% compared to 74.9).

People aged 18 years and over living in areas of most disadvantage were also more likely than those living in the least disadvantaged areas to not meet physical activity guidelines

(78.7% compared to 70.6%).

Related indicator
Overweight and obesity – adults

In this Measure

Topics

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Related measures

Overweight and obesity – adults