Policy context

Physical inactivity is recognised as a significant contributor to cancer incidence and mortality in Australia, emphasising the importance of promoting active lifestyles for overall health. In 2021, physical inactivity contributed to approximately 15,400 DALY (1.8%) of the cancer burden and 8,253 deaths, which is 5.2% of total deaths in Australia.¹

Economic impacts

In 2019, the impact of physical inactivity on the Australian economy was estimated to be $15.6 billion.¹ In 2018-2019, the cost of diseases caused by physical inactivity to the Australian health system was estimated to be $2.4 billion.² Among the top 20 leading causes of death, average health service costs were predominantly highest for people who died from cancer in their last year of life, particularly colorectal, breast and prostate cancer.³ However, it has been estimated that a modest reduction of 10% in physical inactivity from current Australia levels (70% in 2008) could reduce healthcare costs in Australia by AUD 96 million, including the prevention of 6,000 incident cases of inactivity-related diseases, 2,000 fewer deaths, and 25,000 fewer DALYs per year.³

Australian evidence-based guidelines on physical activity & sedentary behaviour:

National Preventive Health Strategy 2021-2030

Australia's National Preventive Health Strategy adopts a comprehensive approach to address physical inactivity across the entire population, in alignment with the (current) Australian evidence-based guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour.¹ This Strategy involves a diverse set of initiatives designed to encourage physical activity and decrease sedentary behaviours. These guidelines emphasise standardised measures for physical activity, promoting physical activity in childhood and particularly among those who are least active. It also outlines the importance of involving healthcare professionals, urban design features, mass media campaigns, and community programs, to make a more active lifestyle accessible to all.¹ The Strategy addresses disparities, setting ambitious targets to reduce insufficient physical activity and promote muscle strengthening activities, recognising the pressing need to reduce health and economic costs associated with inactivity.¹

National Obesity Strategy 2022-2032

The National Obesity Strategy 2022-2032, aligns with the National Preventive Health Strategy, and includes a 10-year roadmap to prevent, reduce and treat overweight and obesity in Australia.⁵ It acknowledges the importance of addressing the wider determinants of health such as socioeconomic disparities, creating healthy environments, empowering individuals to stay healthy and ensuring access to early intervention and supportive health care. This Strategy also shares 3 targets with the National Preventive Health Strategy to increase physical activity. The overall purpose of the Strategy is to increase the consumption of healthy foods, decrease the consumption of unhealthy foods, as well as increase physical activity and decrease sedentary behaviour.

Australia’s Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines set the optimal levels of physical activity required to attain health benefits. To maximise prevention of cancer and unhealthy weight gain, the Guidelines recommend that adults aged 18 to 64 years aim for 150 to 300 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous physical activity each week. They also recommend muscle strengthening activities such as lifting weights on at least 2 days each week, as well as limiting time sitting and lying down.^3,4 These Guidelines are currently under review and will be updated to reflect a 24-hour approach to activity including recognising the importance of sleep as emphasised in the 24-hour Movement Guidelines for children and young people. The updated Guidelines will apply to adults (18 to 64 years), older adults (65 years and above) and people living with chronic conditions or disability.

The 24-hour Movement Guidelines have been developed by the Australian government, and provide recommendations for children and young people (from birth to 17 years) on childhood physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep. The guidelines for children and adolescents (5-17 years) recommend at least 60 minutes each day of moderate to vigorous physical activity that makes the heart beat faster. The Guidelines also recommend that on at least 3 days per week, this should incorporate vigorous physical activity and activities that strengthen muscle and bone.^4,5 These Guidelines largely align with the WHO guidelines except that the WHO guidelines specify that the physical activity can average to 60 minutes per day and does not necessarily require 60 minutes every day.⁶

In 2024, development of the Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Roadmap and Action Plan began, outlining strategies to support the transition to a net zero economy which aligns with Australia’s international and domestic commitments. The Plan will identify pathways for transport and transport infrastructure to contribute to the specified emissions reduction targets and will inform government action required to decarbonise transport and related infrastructure.⁷

Extent of physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour in Australia:

In 2017-18, as many as 9.6 million Australian adults were classified as insufficiently active, highlighting the persistent challenge of promoting physical activity throughout the country.¹

Current levels

Adults:

The National Health Survey 2020-2021 revealed that around three in four (80%) Australians aged 18-64 years failed to meet the recommendations for both physical activity and muscle-strengthening exercises as outlined in the 2014 National Guidelines.^1-3 This percentage was higher in women (78%), compared to men (73%).³ However, it is crucial to note that this survey was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have impacted on the rates reported.^2,3

In 2020-21, more than 3 in 10 (35%) Australians aged 18-64 did not achieve the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity over the past week, and 1 in 2 (50%) people aged 65 and over did not participate in at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day over 5 or more days in the past week.³ Inadequate physical activity progressively becomes more prevalent with age, with approximately a third (29% men and 30% women) of people in the 18-24 age group not meeting the recommended activity levels. These levels increased to half (47%) of men and women (53%) aged 65 and over.³ Approximately half (49.4%) of the individuals between the ages of 18 and 64 who were actively employed and had worked within the past week reported their typical day predominantly consisted of sitting.²

Inadequate levels of physical activity among adults aged 18 and over also appears to be consistent across different remoteness areas^3,8 with 2017-2018 prevalence rates of 55% in Outer regional and remote areas; 53% in Inner regional areas, and 54% in Major cities. A higher proportion of individuals (63%), residing in the lowest socioeconomic areas do not meet recommended physical activity levels, in contrast to 48% in the highest socioeconomic areas.^3,5

Children:

The most recent data available on physical activity in children at the time of publication comes from the ABS National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey 2011–12 (NNPAS), and the ABS Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey: Physical Activity (AATSIHS) 2012–13. Children are reported as meeting the Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines each day if they achieved the recommended levels of physical activity and/or screen time every day in the 7 days before being surveyed.

For children aged 5 – 14 years

• less than one-quarter (23%) undertook the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity every day.
• More than two thirds (68%) engaged in screen-based activity that exceeded the recommended levels
• only 1 in 10 (10%) met both sets of guidelines each day ⁶

Children aged 10–14 were less likely than those aged 5–9 to have met

• the physical activity guidelines (15% compared with 32%)
• the screen-time guidelines (26% compared with 39%)
• both sets of guidelines (5% compared with 16%) ⁶

On average, children aged 5–14 spent just over 2 hours (123 minutes) each day sitting or lying down for screen-based activities, with only 3.5 minutes of this being for homework.

Children aged 10–14 spent more time in front of screens (145 minutes a day, on average) than children aged 5–9 (102 minutes).⁶

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples:

In 2018-19, about 9 in 10 (89%) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged 15 years and older in non-remote areas did not meet the physical activity guidelines for their age, and more than two in 10 (22%) people had done no physical activity at all in the last week, with no significant differences by sex or age group. This figure is higher than the comparable rate for non-Indigenous Australians (65%) in 2017-2018.⁷ In 2014–15, around three-quarters (76%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 4–14 was physically active for at least 60 minutes every day during the previous week.⁸