New Activities Added as part of Comprehensive National Survey

The survey, which runs 365 days a year, asks people aged 16 and over across England about the sport and physical activities they take part in. Results will be published twice a year.

200,000 people completed the first round of the survey between November 2015 and November 2016, making Active Lives the biggest and most comprehensive survey of its kind and an important source of detailed and reliable information about what people do and enjoy.

Key statistics include:

• The number of adults who do less than 30 minutes of moderate intensity sport and physical activity per week
• The number of adults who do 150 minutes or more of moderate intensity sport and physical activity a week, meeting the guidelines recommended by the Chief Medical Officer
• The most popular types of activity.

In line with the Government’s new strategy for sport and physical activity, many different types of activity are now included, reflecting the full range of what people actually do.

In addition to sporting and fitness activities, the new survey measures the levels of walking, cycling for travel and dance. Sessions are only included in the figures if they are done at least at ‘moderate intensity’, which means raising your heart rate and getting a little out of breath.

This information will be helpful to any organisation or individual wanting to understand the role that sport and physical activity plays in people’s everyday lives.

Read more here.

Notes:  The new survey focusses on the 3 categories, namely; 1) inactive, 2) fairly active & 3) active. Therefore there is less focus on sport by sport figures.  This reflects Sport England’s and the Governments investment focus on not only NGB/core market funding but also inactivity and wellbeing through active travel, active leisure.