Physical activity

Note: The data and text for this section is sourced in whole or in part from the following report: Ministry of Social Development (2008), Children and Young People: Indicators of Wellbeing in New Zealand 2008.  Wellington: Ministry of Social Development.

Definition

The proportion of young people aged 15 to 24 who meet physical activity guidelines(1), as measured by the New Zealand Health Survey.

Relevance

Participation in sport and active leisure is a source of enjoyment and satisfaction for many young people.  These activities provide opportunities to master new skills and to socialise with and meet new people.  Engaging in physical activity has positive benefits for people’s physical and mental health and is a protective factor with respect to heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers.(2)

Current level and trends

The 2006/07 New Zealand Health Survey found that 55.2 percent of young people aged 15 to 24 met guidelines for physical activity (that is they had completed at least 30 minutes of exercise on five or more days of the past week). 

This is a small increase on 2002/03, but the difference is not statistically significant.

Proportion of young people aged 15 to 24 who had completed at least 30 minutes of exercise on five or more days of the past week, by sex, 2006/07

Proportion of young people aged 15 to 24 who had completed at least 30 minutes of exercise on five or more days of the past week, by sex, 2006/07

Source: New Zealand Health Survey 2006/07.

Notes

1. “Meeting physical activity guidelines” here means getting 30+ minutes of exercise on five or more days of the week.  These are based on Ministry of Health guidelines which recommend that adults get 30+ minutes on most days of the week (http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/wpg_index/About-Physical+Activity).

2. See Ministry of Health (2008), A Portrait of Health: Key Results of the 2006/07 New Zealand Health Survey (Ministry of Health: Wellington), p. 93.