Overview

Regular physical activity and a healthy diet are important factors in maintaining a healthy weight. Ensuring that you get enough exercise is also an important factor in preventing and managing chronic illnesses, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Featured summary

1 in 2 adults (55%) did not meet the physical activity guidelines in 2017–18
More Indigenous children aged 5–17 met the physical activity guideline than non-Indigenous children aged 5–17
Only 3 in 10 pregnant women met the Australian physical activity guideline.
1 in 10 (12%) children aged 5–12 and 2% of young people aged 13–17 met both the physical activity and sedentary screen-based behaviour guidelines.

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Latest findings

4 in 10 Australian adults did the recommended amount of muscle strengthening activities in 2017–18

Men were more likely to be doing sufficient muscle strengthening activities than women in 2017–18

Younger adults were more likely to be doing sufficient muscle strengthening activities than older adults in 2017–18

17% of 2–5 year olds met the physical activity and screen-based behaviour guidelines on 7 days in 2011–12

12% of children and 2% of adolescents met the physical activity and screen-based behaviour guidelines in 2011–12

15% of adults met both the physical activity and muscle strengthening activity guidelines in 2017–18

More reports and statistics on physical activity can be found under Food & nutrition and Overweight & obesity.