Published 29 Jun, 2020

It is well established that physical activity is essential for good health and well-being. Physical activity can decrease the risk of developing cancer1-3 as well as improving cardiovascular fitness, maintaining bone mineral density, and reducing stress.4 It is also an important element of reducing excess body weight, which is another risk factor associated with cancer.4 Physical activity is the fourth leading risk factor in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, after smoking, alcohol and high body mass, contributing 6% to the disease burden.5

Charts

Physical activity can be defined as any activity that gets your body moving, makes your breathing become quicker and your heart beat faster.6 Physical activity can decrease the risk of developing cancer1-3 as well as improving cardiovascular fitness, maintaining bone mineral density, and reducing stress.4 It is also an important element of reducing excess body weight, which is another risk factor associated with cancer.4 Physical activity is the fourth leading risk factor in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, after smoking, alcohol and high body mass, contributing 6% to disease burden.5

The Implementation Plan for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan (2013–2023)7 includes identifying new evidence-based research and strategies to support physical activity choices.8 The 2017 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework Report highlighted that programmes with a group delivery mode significantly increased physical activity among women experiencing disadvantage. It highlighted group delivery as an essential element to consider for physical activity promotion programmes targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.8

For a comparison with the broader Australian community see the NCCI 'Physical activity - adults'.

In 2018-19, one in ten (11.0%) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years and over met the- physical activity guidelines for their age. A slightly higher proportion of males (12.5%) met the physical activity guidelines compared to females (9.7%). The proportions were similar by sex and age group.9

For both males and females, meeting the guidelines steadily increased by age, increasing from 15-17 years (3.8% and 6.9% respectively), peaking at 25-34 years (15.5% and 10.3% respectively) before declining in the 35-44 years age group (10.5% and 8.1% respectively).9

Remoteness

This measure only applies to non-remote areas.

Within non-remote areas, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in major cities were more likely to meet the guidelines (13.9%), followed by Inner regional areas (10.2%). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people residing in Outer regional areas had the lowest proportion (6.0%) of persons meeting the physical activity guidelines.9

The measure shows the proportion of people aged 15 years and over who meet 2014 Physical Activity Guidelines10, which includes varying combinations of some or all of the following physical activities, depending on their age:

  • Walking for transport
  • Walking for fitness, recreation or sport
  • Moderate intensity exercise
  • Vigorous intensity exercise and/or
  • Strength or toning activities undertaken in the last week.

The measure includes non-remote areas only.

Numerator: Number of persons aged 15 years and over who meet the 2014 physical activity guidelines.

Denominator: Number of persons aged 15 years and over including those who reported ‘Not stated/Not known’.

Where relevant, rates were age-standardised in this report to account for differences in age structure over time.

Data source

Data are sourced from 2018-19 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey.

Data caveats

  • 2014 Physical Activity Guidelines are based on Australia’s Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines10. For more information see Assessing health risk factors (Appendix) from the 2018-19 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey.9
  • Includes all persons in non-remote areas aged 15 years and over. Total includes persons not know if met guidelines.

Activity in this area

Data:

Australian Bureau of Statistics. 4715.0 - National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, 2018-19. Canberra: ABS; 2019; [Accessed May 2020]; Available at: https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4715.0Main+Features12018-19?OpenDocument 

Policy

Department of Health. Australia’s Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines. Canberra: Department of Health; 2014 [Accessed May 2020]; Available at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/health-pub

Australian Department of Health and Ageing. National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013-2023. Canberra; 2013 [Accessed May 2020]; Available at: https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/B92E980680486C3BCA257BF0001BAF01/$File/health-plan.pdf 

Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council, 2017, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework 2017 Report, AHMAC, Canberra [Accessed May 2020]; Available at: https://www.niaa.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/2017-health-performance-framework-report_1.pdf 

Department of Health, Implementation Plan for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013–2023, Australian Government, Canberra, 2015 [Accessed May 2020]; Available at: https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/indigenous-implementation-plan 

Cancer Australia. National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Framework. 2015 Available from: https://canceraustralia.gov.au/publications-and-resources/cancer-australia-publications/overlay-context=affected-cancer/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-people/national-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-cancer-framework

Cancer Australia. Optimal Care Pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer. 2018 Available from: https://canceraustralia.gov.au/publications-and-resources/cancer-australia-publications/optimal-care-pathway-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-people-cancer

 

References

1. Cust AE, Armstrong BK, Friedenreich CM, Slimani N, Bauman A. Physical activity and endometrial cancer risk: a review of the current evidence, biologic mechanisms and the quality of physical activity assessment methods. Cancer causes & control : CCC. 2007;18(3):243-58. Epub 2007/01/09.

2. Lee IM. Physical activity and cancer prevention--data from epidemiologic studies. Medicine and science in sports and exercise. 2003;35(11):1823-7. Epub 2003/11/06.

3. National Cancer Institute. Physical Activity and Cancer. Bethesda: NCI; 2009 [Accessed May 2020]; Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/obesity/physical-activity-fact-sheet

4. Cancer Australia. Physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Sydney: Cancer Australia; 2015 [Accessed May 2020]; Available at: https://canceraustralia.gov.au/publications-and-resources/position-statements/lifestyle-risk-factors-and-primary-prevention-cancer/lifestyle-risk-factors/physical-activity-and-sedentary-behaviour

5. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Australian Burden of Disease Study: Impact and causes of illness and death in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 2011. Australian Burden of Disease Study series no. 6. Cat. no. BOD 7. Canberra, 2016

6. Department of Health, Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour, Australian Government, Canberra, 2019[Accessed May 2020]; Available at: https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/pasb

7. Department of Health, Implementation Plan for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013–2023, Australian Government, Canberra, 2015 [Accessed May 2020]; Available at: https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/indigenous-implementation-plan 

8. Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council, 2017, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework 2017 Report, AHMAC, Canberra [Accessed May 2020]; Available at: https://www.niaa.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/2017-health-performance-framework-report_1.pdf 

9. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 4715.0 - National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, 2018-19. Canberra: ABS; 2019; [Accessed May 2020]; Available at: https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4715.0Main+Features12018-19?OpenDocument

10. Department of Health. Australia’s Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines. Canberra: Department of Health; 2014 [Accessed May 2020]; Available at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/health-pub

Summary

One in ten Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people meet the physical activity guidelines

In 2018-19, more than one in ten (11.0%) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years and over met the physical activity guidelines for their age.

A higher proportion of males meet the physical activity guidelines compared to females

In 2018-19, a higher proportion of males (12.5%) met the physical activity guidelines compared to females (9.7%).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in major cities were more likely to meet the guidelines

In 2018-19, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in major cities (13.9%) were more likely to meet the physical activity guidelines compared to those residing in other non-remote areas.

In this Measure