Statistics on Obesity, PA & Diet: England, Jan 08 i Compiled by Sally Cornfield on behalf of PAN-WM Headline Findings

PA Headline Statements (Adults) 40% of men & 28% of women met current PA recommendations (5x30) in An increase from (Figure 1) There remains a significant difference in participation levels between genders ii. (Figures 2&3) For both men & women the proportion meeting the recommendation decreased with age. For men 16-34yrs 53% met the guidelines compared to 9% 75yrs+. For women proportions remained stable from (between 33% & 36%) but decreased to 4% for 75yrs+ ii. (Figure 4) The proportion of both men & women walking & participating in sport and exercise has also increased. (Men, walking: 32% 1998, 38% 2006) (Women, walking: 24% 1998, 30% 2006) (Men, sport & ex: 42% 1998, 46% 2006) (Women, sport & ex: 36% 1998, 39% 2006) ii. (Figure 5) There was a significant increase in participation PA of any kind among men (80% in 1998 to 82% in 2006) ii. (Figure 5)

Figure 1 Health Survey for England The Information Centre, Available at:

Figures 2 & 3 Health Survey for England The Department of Health, Available at: ationsStatistics/DH_ ationsStatistics/DH_ Health Survey for England The Information Centre, Available at:

Figure 4 Health Survey for England The Information Centre, Available at:

Figure 5 Health Survey for England The Information Centre, Available at:

PA Headline Statements (Adults) Men participated on more hours of PA a week (8.0) than women (5.4) in 2006 ii. (Figure 6) In 2005/06, 69% of adults reported participating in at least one type of active sport in the past 12 months iv. The most common types of active sports for adults were: swimming or diving (31%), health, fitness, gym or conditioning activities (20%) followed by non utility cycling (16%) iv. (Figure 7)

Figure 6 Health Survey for England The Information Centre, Available at:

Figure 7 Taking Part: The National Survey of Culture, Leisure and Sport, Annual Report 2005/2006. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Available at: 7/tps_annualreport0506.htm 7/tps_annualreport0506.htm

PA & Obesity Headline Statements (Adults) PA levels are related to BMI status. The proportion of men with high PA levels fell from 44% among those who had a normal BMI to 31% among those who were obese to 16% among those morbidly obese iii. (Figure 6) For women among those with a normal BMI 30% had high PA levels falling to 18% among those who were obese & morbidly obese iii. (Figure 6) The pattern is similar between PA & raised waist circumference. Men & women with low PA levels were around twice as likely to have a raised waist circumference compared to lose with high PA levels ii. Despite clear evidence relating high PA levels to lower obesity levels only 3.5% of adults sited ‘to lose weight’ as their reason for participating in PA. ‘To lose weight’ was ranked 5 th as the main reason for participation by adults iv. (Figure 9)

Figure 8 Health Survey for England The Department of Health, Available at: icationsStatistics/DH_ icationsStatistics/DH_

Figure % 29.7% 9.2% 3.5% 8.7% Taking Part: The National Survey of Culture, Leisure and Sport, Annual Report 2005/2006. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Available at: 7/tps_annualreport0506.htm 7/tps_annualreport0506.htm

PA Headline Statements (Adults) cont. There is a clear gradient in the prevalence of low activity levels across the income quintiles for both men & women ii. Those in the lowest income quintile are more likely to be in the low participation group than those in the highest quintile. (Figures 10 & 11) ii. The Between 42% & 45% of men in the three highest income quintiles met the 5x30 recommendation falling to 35% in the lowest income quintile (the pattern is not as clear in women) ii. Those earning over £50k were most likely to participate in at least one active sport in the last 12mths (89%) compared to those whose income was less than £10k (61%) iv. (Figure 12)

Figures 10 & 11 Health Survey for England The Information Centre, Available at:

Figure 12 Taking Part: The National Survey of Culture, Leisure and Sport, Annual Report 2005/2006. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Available at: 7/tps_annualreport0506.htm 7/tps_annualreport0506.htm

PA Headline Statements (Adults) cont. Participation patterns by ethnic groups reveals that Irish (39%) & Black Caribbean (37%) men & Black Caribbean (31%), Black African (29%) & Irish (29%) women report the highest levels of PA in relation to the general population (Men: 37%) (Women: 25%). (Figure 13) Despite this Black Caribbean and Irish men are the most likely to be obese v. Only 11% of Bangladeshi & 14% of Pakistani women met the 5x30 recommendation. (Figure 13) Despite this Bangladeshi women are the least likely group to be obese v. Household structure seems to affect participation in active sport with adults living in single adult households (with no children) participating significantly less that other groups ii. (Figure 14) Households with adults & children had the highest observed participation rates iv. (Figure 14)

Figure 13 Health Survey for England The Information Centre, 2006 Available at:

Figure 14 Adults' participation in active sport by household structure, 2005/06

PA Headline Statements (Adults) cont. Participation rates also vary significantly when comparing patterns between people’s qualifications and participation in active sport. Those with no formal qualifications had the lowest participation rates (41%) compared to those who had A-levels or above (83%) iv. (Figure 15) The Taking Part Survey produces a progress report on the PSA3 target (to increase the no. of people participating in at least 12 lots of active sport per year by 3% among target groups). Results show that in year 2 that 51.9% of adults from BME groups, 31.2% of adults with limiting disability, 42.2% of adults from lower SES groups and 46.2% of women participated in at least one active sport during the past 4 weeks. Comparing estimates from year 1 to year 2 there has been a significant decrease in women’s participation in active sport vi. (Figure 16)

Figure 15 Adults' participation in active sport by qualifications, 2005/06

Figure 16 Spending Reviews 2004 public service agreements 2005/2008, HM-Treasury. Available at:

PA Headline Statements (Adults) cont. A higher proportion of adults in Scotland had participated in at least 30mins of continuous PA on most days of the week than in England. (Men; 40% in Scotland, 36% in England) (Women; 29% in Scotland, 24% in England) iv, iii. Participation levels also vary across local authority regions in England. Adults living in the South East have higher rates of participation in active sports than all other regions. Adults living in the North West, Yorkshire & Humber & the West Midlands have lower rates ii. (Figure 17) Trend data shows that in the West Midlands men are decreasing the amount of PA they are doing (41% 2003, 36%, 2006) & women are increasing the amount of PA they are doing (22% 2003, 25% 2006) ii, iii. (Figures 18 & 19 – all LA’s/all PA levels) (Figure 20 & 21 – West Midlands/all PA levels) (Figures 22 & 23 W.Mids in relation to all LA’s – high PA levels).

Figure 17 Adults participation in active sport during the past 12 months by Government Office Region, 2005/06

Figure 18 Health Survey for England The Department of Health, Health Survey for England The Information Centre, 2008.

Figure 19 Health Survey for England The Department of Health, Health Survey for England The Information Centre, 2008.

Figures 20 & 21 Health Survey for England The Department of Health, Health Survey for England The Information Centre, 2008.

Figures 22 & 23 Health Survey for England The Department of Health, Health Survey for England The Information Centre, 2008.

PA Headline Statements (Adults) cont. Active Travel (walking & cycling) can contribute to being physically active. In Great Britain the average number of walking trips fell by 15% between 1995/97 & The trend is similar for cycling viii. Women make more trips on foot (26%) compared with men (22%), however children (under 17yrs) reported this highest proportion of trips made on foot (34%) viii. (Figure 24) Adults ages 40 to 59 reported the lowest proportion of trips (19%) however the proportion of trips made on foot was higher for women than men in all ages groups viii. Bicycle trips were more common among men ages 17 to 29 (4%) viii. (Figure 25)

Figure 24 National Travel Survey The Department for Transport, Available at: ainresults/nts2006/ ainresults/nts2006/

Figure 25 National Travel Survey The Department for Transport, Available at: ainresults/nts2006/ ainresults/nts2006/

PA Headline Statements (Adults) cont. The main reasons for not taking part in active sports during the last year was due to poor health (47%), not being interested (18%) & difficulty in finding the time (18%) iv. (Figure 26) Of those who were active in the past 12 months, 39% reported that they would participate more frequently if they were less busy, 11% if there were cheaper admission prices & 9% if they had people to go with iv.

Figure 26 Taking Part: The National Survey of Culture, Leisure and Sport, Annual Report 2005/2006. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Available at: 7/tps_annualreport0506.htm 7/tps_annualreport0506.htm

Figure 27 Taking Part: The National Survey of Culture, Leisure and Sport, Annual Report 2005/2006. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Available at: 7/tps_annualreport0506.htm 7/tps_annualreport0506.htm

References i Office of National Statistics (2008) Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity & Diet: England. January, The Information Centre, Lifestyle Statistics. Available at: nal.pdf ii Health Survey for England The Information Centre, Available at: iii Health Survey for England The Department of Health, Available at: stics/DH_ stics/DH_ iv Taking Part: The National Survey of Culture, Leisure and Sport, Annual Report 2005/2006. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Available at: ualreport0506.htm ualreport0506.htm v Health Survey for England The Information Centre, 2006 Available at:

References cont. vi Spending Reviews 2004 public service agreements 2005/2008, HM-Treasury. Available at: vii The Scottish Health Service Scottish Executive Health Department, 2005 Available at: viii National Travel Survey The Department for Transport, Available at: ts2006/ ts2006/