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Report of the
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Health-related behaviours
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Report of the
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Health-related behaviours
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| Note: | The indicator includes those who did adequate physical activity. Adequate physical activity is a total of 150 minutes per week on 5 separate occasions. The total minutes were calculated by adding minutes in the last week spent walking continuously for at least 10 minutes, minutes doing moderate physical activity, plus 2 x minutes doing vigorous physical activity. The questions used to define the indicator were: In the last week, how many times have you walked continuously for at least 10 minutes for recreation or exercise or to get to or from places?, What do you estimate was the total time you spent walking in this way in the last week?, In the last week, how many times did you do any vigorous physical activity that made you breathe harder or puff and pant?, What do you estimate was the total time you spent doing this vigorous physical activity in the last week?, In the last week, how many times did you do any other more moderate physical activity that you have not already mentioned? Estimates are based on 11,402 respondents. 98 (0.85%) were not stated (Don’t know or Refused). LL/UL 95%CI = lower and upper limits of the 95% confidence interval for the point estimate. |
| Source: | NSW Population Health Survey (HOIST). Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health. |
Physical inactivity was responsible for 7% of the total burden of disease in Australia in 2003, with ischaemic heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and stroke accounting for more than four-fifths of this burden (Begg et al., in press). Physical activity is a preventive factor for cardiovascular disease, cancer, mental illness, diabetes mellitus and injury. To maintain health, it is recommended that moderate intensity activity be carried out on most, and preferably all, days of the week for at least 30 minutes per day (ADHA, 1999). Moderate intensity activity includes brisk walking, dancing, swimming and cycling.
To maintain good health, the National physical activity guidelines for adults recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate activity on most, and preferably all, days of the week. This includes brisk walking, dancing, swimming, or cycling, which can be undertaken in shorter bursts such as 3 lots of 10 minutes (DHAC, 199 and 2005).
In 2005, the New South Wales Population Health Survey showed that 51.9% of adults aged 16 years and over reported adequate levels of physical activity (56.6% of males and 47.3% of females). Adequate physical activity was most frequently reported by males (69.7%) and females (59.6%) aged 16-24 years. Adequate physical activity was least frequently reported by males (40.2%) and females (27.7%) aged 75 years and over.
The Premier's Council for Active Living is using policy and legislative means, as well as supporting leaders in the public, private and non-government sectors and building sustainable partnerships in these sectors to encourage active living in different physical and social environments in NSW (PCAL website).
| For more information: |
Begg S, Vos T, Barker B. et al. The burden of disease and injury in Australia, 2003. Canberra: AIHW, in press. Available at www.aihw.gov.au/publications. Australian Department of Health and Ageing. National physical activity guidelines for Australians. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, 1999. Available at: www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/health-pubhlth-publicat-phys.htm Department of Health and Aged Care. National physical activity guidelines for adults.. Canberra: Australian Government, 1999 , reprinted in 2005. Available at www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/BC3101B1FF200CA4CA256F9700154958/$File/adults_phys.pdf Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Australia's physical activity recommendations for children and young people. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, 2004. Available at: www.aodgp.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/health-pubhlth-strateg-active-recommend.htm. Premier's Council for Active Living website at www.pcal.nsw.gov.au |
| Print version: | Although this page can be printed directly from your Web browser, a higher quality version of this entire page (graph, table and text) is available as an Acrobat PDF file which can be printed or viewed on screen using free software. |
| Downloadable files: | The data contained in the table on this page are available for download as a CSV file which can be imported into many software packages. The graph is available for download as an EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) file and as an EMF (Enhanced Metafile Format) file. Files in these formats can be imported into most word processing, presentation and graphics software packages. |
| Copyright notice: | This work is copyright NSW Department of Health, 2006. It may be reproduced in whole or in part, subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source. Commercial usage or sale is prohibited. |
| Suggested citation: | Population Health Division. The health of the people of New South Wales - Report of the Chief Health Officer. Sydney: NSW Department of Health. Available at: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/chorep/beh/beh_phys_age.htm. Accessed (insert date of access). |
| Produced by: | Centre for Epidemiology and Research, Population Health Division, NSW Department of Health. |
| Last updated on: | 30 November 2006 |
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