Official Statistics

Physical activity data tool: statistical commentary, April 2018

Published 4 April 2018

Main findings

This update shows:

• in 2016 to 2017, the percentage of adults physically active at recommended levels in local authorities ranged from 53.3% to 78.8%
• in 2016 to 2017, the percentage of adults physically inactive in local authorities ranged from 12.4% to 33.3%
• males continue to be more likely to report achieving recommended physical activity levels than females
• the proportion of adults that reported being physically active decreased with age
• significant differences in activity levels remained between those with or without a disability
• those who were long term unemployed or have never worked continued to be least likely to be active and most likely to be inactive

Summary

This statistical commentary presents a new data point and revised baseline data for 2 physical activity indicators available in Public Health England’s (PHE) Physical Activity tool and Public Health Outcomes Framework (PHOF). The indicators present estimates of the percentage of adults that are physically active and inactive across England in 2016 to 2017, as well as revised physically active estimates for 2015 to 2016. The physical activity indicators have been produced to support local monitoring of performance against the UK Chief Medical Officers’ (CMOs’) guidelines^{[footnote 1]}.

This statistical release presents an annual update for 2 physical activity indicators:

• 2.13i - percentage of physically active adults - current method
• 2.13ii - percentage of physically inactive adults - current method

It also presents revised baseline data for the physically active indicator.

The release presents Active Lives data collected between 16 November 2016 and 15 November 2017, using either an online or paper self-report questionnaire. The analysis presented is for adults aged 19 and over, resulting in a total sample size of 189,959. Further details on the sampling methodology can be found in the Year 2 Technical Note.

Percentage of physically active adults – current method

Physically active adults are those who report doing at least 150 moderate intensity equivalent minutes of physical activity per week, meeting the aerobic elements of the CMOs’ guidelines^{[footnote 1]}.

This update shows:

• in 2016 to 2017, estimates of physically active adults among local authority districts and unitary authorities in England ranged from 53.3% to 78.8%
• males remained more likely to report being physically active than females (68.6% and 63.6% respectively)
• the percentage of adults that reported being physically active continues to decrease with age, from 75.6% amongst 19 to 24 year olds and 26.4% amongst those aged 85 and over. Although differences in activity levels by age remained, the proportion of people aged 25 to 34 that were physically active fell from 71.0% in 2015 to 2016 to 69.3% in 2016 to 2017. In contrast, those aged 65 to 74 reported an increase in being active for 150+ minutes per week (64.7% up from 63.6% in 2015 to 2016).
• significant differences remained between those with or without a disability that were physically active; 70.2% of those with no disability, compared to 49.8% of those with a disability, reported being physically active
• those that identified their ethnic group or background as mixed continued to be most likely to report being physically active (72.9%)
• there were no changes compared to 2015 to 2016 for the different socioeconomic groups. People who were in managerial, administrative and professional occupations were still most likely to be active (75.2%) whilst those who were long term unemployed or have never worked were the least likely to be active (51.2%)

Percentage of physically inactive adults – current method

Physically inactive adults are those who report doing less than 30 moderate intensity equivalent minutes of physical activity per week.

This update shows:

• in 2016 to 2017, estimates of physically inactive adults among local authority districts and unitary authorities in England ranged from 12.4% to 33.3%
• inactivity levels remained the same for males and females. Females (23.6%) continue to be more likely to be inactive than males (20.8%)
• overall, there is still a clear relationship between inactivity levels and age. However, those aged 55 to 84 reported lower levels of inactivity compared to 2015 to 2016; whereas those aged 25 to 34 reported higher levels of inactivity (19.1% compared to 17.6% in 2015 to 2016)
• similar levels of inactivity were reported among people with a disability compared to the previous year. Inactivity is more common for those with a disability (37.2%) than those without (18.3%)
• those that identified their ethnic group or background as Asian continued to be most likely to report being physically inactive (30.5%)
• inactivity levels by socioeconomic group remained similar; more than a third (35.8%) of those who were long term unemployed or have never worked reported being physically inactive

Inequalities

Data for both indicators is available for England at national, regional, county and district geographies. Additional data is also available at England level for ethnicity, disability, working status, socioeconomic class and IMD 2015 deprivation deciles. Full details are available from the ‘Inequalities’ tab within each indicator.

Background

Active Lives

The source data for the physical activity indicators, Active Lives, is a survey conducted by Ipsos MORI on behalf of Sport England, which commissioned the survey with additional funding from PHE, Arts Council England and the Department of Transport.

Similar estimates for physical activity and inactivity have been published by Sport England. Sport England released their Year 2 estimates of physical activity from Active Lives in March, with their main measure reporting physical activity estimates for those aged 16 and over and excluding gardening activity. The PHE physical activity indicators presented here classify adults as age 19 and over and include gardening activity in accordance with recommendations from the CMOs. Therefore these 2 sets of indicators are not comparable.

Access the Sport England Active Lives Year 2 report. See further details of the Active Lives methodology.

Sporting Future – national strategy for an active nation

The government is committed to increasing physical activity and reducing inactivity. The 2015 Sporting Future strategy reiterated the government’s aim to increase the number of people meeting the CMOs’ guidelines on physical activity^{[footnote 1]} and reduce the number of people deemed to be inactive by being active for less than 30 minutes a week.

The Health Survey for England (HSE) is used by central government to monitor trends in the national physical activity estimates. In HSE 2016, adults (aged 19 and over) physical activity estimates using the current CMOs’ guidelines were published for 2012 and 2016.

To support local monitoring of performance against the CMOs’ guidelines, PHE have produced physical activity indicators for each local authority in England.

Data from this statistical release should not be compared with trend data from the historical indicators available within the Physical Activity tool and PHOF. Data from this release should also not be compared to the previously published HSE physical activity estimates.

Physical Activity tool

The Physical Activity tool brings together data on physical activity at local level for England. It includes physical activity data; including walking and cycling, as well as information on related risk factors and conditions such as obesity and diabetes. The aim of the tool is to help local areas monitor the health of their local population, support needs assessment, local planning and commissioning of infrastructure and services that encourage and support people to be physically active.

Further details of how the indicators have been calculated are available from the ‘Definitions’ tab within the Physical Activity tool.

Responsible statistician, product lead: Craig Timpson

For queries relating to this document, please contact: ProfileFeedback@phe.gov.uk

1. The CMOs recommend that adults (aged 19 and over) undertake 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of moderate activity per week, in bouts of 10 minutes or more. See UK Chief Medical Officers’ (CMOs’) guidelines. ↩ ↩² ↩³