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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: | Vigorous physical activity was defined as doing 'an activity for at least 30 minutes that made you sweat and breathe hard (for example: basketball, netball, soccer, football, running, fast bike riding, fast dancing, aerobics)'. Moderate physical activity was defined as doing 'an activity for at least 30 minutes that did not make you sweat or breathe hard (for example: slow bike riding, swimming, pushing a lawn mower, mopping floors, brisk walking)'. Estimates are based on 6,180 respondents. |
| Source: | NSW School Students Health Behaviours Survey, 2005 (HOIST). Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health. |
It is increasingly difficult for children and adolescents to participate in a physically active lifestyle. An increase in sedentary recreational activities, such as watching television and videos and playing computer games, coupled with a culture of driving children to school and other activities instead of walking or cycling have all contributed to creating an environment that encourages more sedentary pursuits (Booth, 2000a).
It has been estimated that 20-25% of Australian children are not sufficiently physically active and are at risk of becoming inactive adults (Booth, 2000b). Regular physical activity throughout life reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (especially coronary heart disease) and non insulin dependent diabetes, and reduces the risks of heart disease and stroke, by helping to control body weight, blood pressure and blood lipid levels (Shilton, 2001). Australian recommendations for levels of physical activity in young people are at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity every day (AGDHA, 2004).
In the NSW Secondary School Students Behavioural Survey students were asked to estimate the amount of moderate and vigorous activity they had undertaken in the previous week. In 2005, the majority of secondary school students reported doing moderate (67.3%) and/or vigorous physical activity (68.3%) on one to four occasions in the previous week. Just under a quarter of students reported doing either moderate (21.0%) or vigorous (20.8%) activity at least five times in the previous week, with a higher proportion of males reporting moderate and vigorous activity than females. Just over one in ten students reported not doing any moderate (11.1%) or vigorous (10.7%) activity, which increased with age from 8.8% in the 12-15 age group to 15.7% in the 16-17 year age group for vigorous activity.
| For more information: |
Booth, ML. What strategies can be used to promote and maintain adequate levels of physical activity in Australian children? Med J Aust 2000a; 173: S7-S8. Booth, ML. What proportion of Australian children are sufficiently physically active? Med J Aust 2000b; 173: S6-S7. Shilton T. Promoting physical activity: Ten recommendations from the Heart Foundation. A position paper for health professionals and organisations planning to develop and promote physical activity programs. National Heart Foundation, 2001. Available at www.ausport.gov.au/fulltext/2001/nhf/promo_physi_act.asp 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 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. Health Canada. Canada's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living: Family Guide to Physical Activity for Youth 10-14 years of age. Health Canada, 2002. Available at www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/pau-uap/paguide/child_youth/ |
| 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. |
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| 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_physstud_cat.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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