Younger adults (16-34-year-olds) are significantly more likely to have done some physical activity (i.e. on 2-4 days) in the previous week than both 35-54-year-olds and older adults (55+) – 59% [younger adults] vs. 47% [35-54-year-olds] vs. 43% [older adults].
Over half of all groups have participated in walking for leisure in the past week, although older adults and 35-54-year-olds are significantly more likely to have than younger adults – 52% vs. 63% vs. 69%. Note. there is a 7-percentage-point increase in older adults walking for leisure since April 23.
Walking for leisure with somebody else has decreased by 13-percentage-points for younger adults and 11-percentage-points for older adults since Jan 2024 – 44% vs. 48% vs. 37%.
Older adults’ confidence in taking part in physical activity in gyms / health and fitness suites has decreased by 7-percentage-points since Jan 24, to 21%.
Just under half (49%) of younger adults say that they are likely to volunteer to support sport and physical activity in the next 12 months compared to approx. a third of 35-54-year-olds (33%) and 14% of older adults.
45% of younger adults who are likely to volunteer to support sport and physical activity intend to undertake a coaching role, with 41% of the 35-54-year-olds say they intend to.
60% of 35-54-year-olds agree that they find exercise enjoyable and satisfying, which is a 7-percentage-point decrease from April 23. Whilst 43% of older adults agreed and this is an 11-percentage-point decrease from April 23.
Younger adults are significantly more likely to agree that they do not have enough time to be physically active due to other commitments than 35-54-year-olds and older adults – 51% vs. 40% vs. 17%.
57% of 35–54-year-olds take part in physical activity to help manage their physical health, this is an 8-percentage-point increase since Jan 24.
74% of younger adults agree that it is important to them to exercise regularly which is a 7-percentage-point increase from April 23. Whilst 64% of 35-54-year-olds agree, which is an 8-percentage-point decrease from April 23.
49% of those who are 35-54 years old agree that sport and physical activity facilities in their local area are of high quality, this is a 10-percentage-point increase since Jan 24.
Younger adults and 35-54-year-olds are significantly more likely to agree that sport and physical activities in their local area are affordable, compared to older adults – 48% vs. 42% vs. 35%.
61% of younger adults agree that they are able to get to local sport and physical activities that appeal to them, compared to 60% of 35-54-year-olds and 52% of older adults.
35–54-year-olds are more likely than other age groups to say that increases in the cost-of-living have negatively impacted them – 40% vs. 47% vs. 32%.
38% of younger adults and 35-54-year-olds say that they have been doing less sport and physical activity due to changes in the cost of living, this is compared to 19% of older adults.
All age groups were most likely to report that ‘to be physically healthy’ motivated them the most to participate in sport and physical activity.
