Health - Addressing The Middle Aged Slump Making our health a priority... By Mike Foster - 15th October 2002 - Back to News Middle-aged Australians currently do the least amount of regular exercise of all adult age groups across the country.
Australians between the age of 40 and 59 will be targeted in the Active Australia Day 2002 campaign to "Play it Again!" and get back into sport, as recent research shows there is a middle-aged slump in their physical activity levels.
Active Australia Day 2002 spokesperson and champion marathon runner Robert de Castella says less than 50 percent of Australians in this age bracket exercise regularly.
"We are fatter and less fit than ever before and this trend must be addressed now, for the sake of future health costs to individuals and families," Mr de Castella says. "The middle-age is a busy time with family and work commitments, but we must make our health a priority."
"More than 8000 people die in Australia each year from disease directly related to lack of physical activity.
"Statistics reveal a health cost to the community in excess of $400 million a year related to a lack of physical activity in this county.
"I call on all Australians to take up the Active Australia Day 2002 challenge and join a sporting club and commit to regular physical activity – make Sunday 27 October the day you change your life for the better."
Councils, Sporting clubs, fitness centres and schools around Australia are running events on Active Australia day, Sunday 27 October, to make it easy for Australians to come and try a sport.
Physical activity levels – based on recommended 150mins in previous week
|
Sex |
% |
|
Male |
57.6 |
|
Female |
56.0 |
|
Total |
56.8 |
|
Age |
% |
|
18-29 |
68.5 |
|
30-44 |
54.2 |
|
45-59 |
49.7 |
|
60-75 |
54.4 |
Source: "Getting Australia Active" 2002
Active Australia Day on Sunday 27 October, 2002 is an Australian Sports Commission initiative and forms part of the Federal Government’s sports policy Backing Australia’s Sporting Ability – A More Active Australia. Active Australia Day is delivered by the Leisure Australia Foundation and sponsored by VIP Home Services.
For more information on Active Australia Day 2002 visit www.activeaustraliaday.com
Latest statistical information on health and exercise
- Physical inactivity doubles your chance of developing cardiovascular disease (World Heart Federation and Australian Institute of Health of Welfare)
- Australians exercising sufficiently for health has declined significantly from 62 percent sufficiently active in 1997 to 57 percent sufficiently active in 2000 (Active Australia Survey)
- 67 percent of Australian adult men and 50 percent of Australian adult women are classed as overweight (Norton.K, Harten.N, Martin.M and Dollman.J)
- Since 1970 there has been a dramatic acceleration in the proportion of overweight children. Childhood obesity is now considered to be an epidemic. (Norton.K, Harten.N, Martin.M and Dollman.J)
- 25 percent of all Australian children are now classed as overweight (Norton.K, Harten.N, Martin.M and Dollman.J)
- In the last 5 years there has been a 7 percent increase (from 31 to 38 percent) in the number of executives who are physically inactive (Australia’s Health, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare)
- The average 12 year old boy weighs 46kg today, 2kg more than in 1985. The average 12 year old girl is 3kg heavier (SmartStart survey)
- Childhood obesity has tripled in the last decade (Australian Medical Association)
- Women are 20 percent less likely to report leisure time physical activity than men (Getting Australia Active Report)
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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