Adequate Physical Exercise

Indicator Rationale 

Nationally, there is a strong interest in the health related benefits of exercise.  Individuals who participate in physical activities are healthier in mind and body and have a reduced risk of cardiovascular and related diseases.  Adequate levels of physical activity to derive health benefits may also be indicative of striking a balance between work and life and has links with mental health.  Participation in sporting activities is also related to interactions with the wider community.  Participation builds social cohesion and connectedness, thereby reducing isolation, a recognised social determinant to health. 

Data Source

Victorian Population Health Survey 2007 (VPHS)

Measures

The percentage of people who undertook sufficient physical activity to confer a health benefit in the previous week, reported at the regional level (VPHS).  This measure is calculated as the proportion of people that meet the benchmark criteria of at least 5 sessions per week with an accrued minimum of 150 minutes of moderate and/or vigorous activity.

More specifically, accruing 150 minutes of exercise on a regular basis over one week is deemed to qualify for a health benefit according to the National physical activity guidlines for Australians.  The number of minutes spent on physical activity is calculated by adding the minutes from moderate intensity to twice the minutes from vigorous activity (vigorous activity is weighted by a factor of two, to reflect the intensity of vigorous activity).  The number of minutes spent on physical exercise is deemed to have health benefits if the individual exercises five or more times per week.  Individuals who report undertaking only walking or less than 150 minutes of  physical activity for fewer than five times per week, do not meet the criteria for health benefits.   

Survey Question

How many times did you do each type of activity in the previous week?  Walking briskly, moderate leisure activity, Vigorous leisure activity. 

If you add up all the times you spent in each activity last week, how much time did you spend walking briskly, doing moderate leisure activity, vigorous leisure activity? Record number of times and hours/minutes for walking briskly, moderate leisure activity, vigorous leisure activity.

Source of Question

Women's Health Australia Survey - Active Australia Armstrong, T, Bauman A, Davies J. Physical activity patterns of Australian
adults: Results of the 1999 National Physical Activity Survey.

AIHW Canberra 2000, Percentage of people who undertook sufficient moderate or vigorous exercise physical activity to confer a health benefit in the previous week.

Reference

Cardiovascular Disease (Clinical) DSS - Exported from METeOR (AIHW's Meta Data OnLine registry)

Egger G, Donovan R, Giles-Corti B, Bull, F, Swinburn B (2001) "Developing National physical activity guidlines for Australians," Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Vol 25(6), 561-563.