Fed: Australians exercising less, report finds

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2000
Fed: Australians exercising less, report finds

By Elizabeth Gosch

CANBERRA, Aug 31 AAP - Australians are becoming lazier, doing only one hour of exercise
a week on average, a new study has found.

While almost nine out of 10 people believed they could be healthier by being more active,
that knowledge did not equal action, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare said.

Its physical activity patterns of Australian adults result showed 88 per cent of Australians
aged between 18 and 75 believed they could be healthier by being more active.

Even more - 92 per cent - believed their health could be improved by doing 30 minutes
of moderate-intensity physical activity each day.

But the average amount of time spent each week walking and doing moderate and vigorous
activity had fallen over recent years.

The study found the time spent in vigorous activity had dropped from an average of
91 minutes per person each week in 1997 to 65 minutes in 1999.

There was also a fall in the proportion of Australians doing enough physical activity
to provide a health benefit.

Launching the report, Olympian Robert de Castella said with the Sydney Olympics so
close, now was a good time for people to focus on being active.

"Physical inactivity ranks second only to tobacco smoking as a health risk factor,"

Mr de Castella said.

"The flipside is that moderate activity has important benefits for physical and mental health.

"It reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and many types of cancer and
can contribute to feelings of enthusiasm for life and a sense of well-being."

Between 1997 and 1999, the proportion of people who were physically inactive rose to
15 per cent from 13 per cent.

The number of Australians doing enough exercise to provide a health benefit dropped
to 57 per cent from 62 per cent.

On the up side, one-third of adults surveyed said they planned to become more physically
active in the next month and 29 per cent said they were intending to do more exercise
in the next six months.

These good intentions to do more exercise were greater for women than for men and decreased
with age.

Mr de Castella pointed out that physical activity didn't have to cost a lot.

"When you look at the potential benefits it's hard to beat in terms of value for money," he said.

AAP eg/mfh/arb/de

KEYWORD: EXERCISE

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