There's plenty of evidence to show physical activity does us good, from protecting against heart disease, diabetes and some cancers to aiding concentration and self-esteem in adolescents and improving sleep and stress management in adults.
But it seems only a fraction of Australians move as much as we're meant to.
Here's how much activity the Government recommends we get:
- Ages 2-5: At least 180 minutes per day
- Ages 5-12: At least 60 minutes per day
- Ages 13-17: At least 60 minutes per day
- Ages 18-64: At least 150 minutes over 5 sessions per week
- Ages 65 and over: At least 30 minutes per day
This includes incidental movement, like walking to and from school or doing household chores, as well as formal exercise.
Teens are the group least likely to meet the guidelines, and they also have a high proportion exceeding the recommended time spent in front of screens (kids aged 5-17 are meant to get less than two hours' screen-based entertainment a day).
In 2011-12, just 0.7 per cent of 15-17-year-olds met both the physical activity and screen time guidelines.
What should I read next?
- Why kids are inactive (and why it's not just their parents' fault)
- Kids need more exercise: study
- Why do kids never seem to get tired?
Want more charts?
This is part of a new daily series featuring charts which tell a story. If you know of some data that fits the bill, we'd love to hear about it.
- Are you eating more veggies than a 3-year-old? Probably not
- Who has more weight loss surgeries: men or women?
- What's the worst thing to do before bed if you want a good rest?
