Summary Sheet
The information being displayed below are either significant differences between the demographic data, or significant changes since the previous wave. If you are looking for a more in-depth analysis, please see factsheets for wave 8 and 9.
There has been a 7-percentage-point increase (to 51%) in the proportion of those with a longstanding health condition or illness ‘walking for leisure’ with somebody else since Oct 2023.
8% of those without a longstanding health condition or illness say that they have been referred to do any physical activity by a GP, in comparison to 25% of those with a longstanding health condition or illness.
Those without a longstanding health condition or illness are significantly more likely to be confident taking part in physical activity in the following settings than those with a longstanding health condition or illness:
- Grass pitches (used for football, rugby, cricket etc.) – 33% [without a longstanding health condition or illness] vs. 21% [with a longstanding health condition or illness]
- Gyms / Health and fitness suites – 48% vs. 32%
- Swimming pools – 50 vs. 43%
- Sports halls – 34% vs. 24%
- Studios (used for yoga, aerobics, spinning, martial arts etc.) – 33% vs. 21%
- Outdoor courts (used for tennis, basketball etc.) – 33% vs. 22%
- Parks – 72% vs. 58%
78% of people with a longstanding condition or illness responded that they are comfortable using an indoor gym or fitness centre, this is a 10-percentage-point decrease from Oct 23.
41% of respondents with a mental health condition or illness are likely to volunteer to support sport and physical activity in the next 12 months, this is a 14-percentage-point increase from Oct 2023. Whilst 32% of those without a longstanding health condition or illness said the same, which is an 8-percentage-point decrease from Oct 23.
64% of those with a mental condition or illness believe they have the ability to be physically active (a 9-percentage-point increase from Oct 23), compared to 41% of respondents with a physical condition or illness and 85% of those without a longstanding health condition or illness.
There has been a 7-percentage-point decrease in those with a mental health condition or illness reporting that they have the opportunity to be physically active since Oct 23, with rates remaining similar from previous waves for the other groups (59% [mental condition or illness] vs. 51% [physical condition or illness] vs. 84% [no longstanding condition or illness]).
68% of people with no longstanding health conditions or illnesses say that they have the confidence to be physically active compared to 43% of those with a longstanding health condition or illness.
Those with a mental condition or illness were significantly more likely to worry about their impact on the natural environment when taking part in sport or physical activity than those without a longstanding health condition or illness (28% vs. 26% vs. 20%).
Those with a mental condition or illness were also significantly more like to agree that they could do more to reduce the negative impact on the natural environment when taking part in sport or physical activity than those with a physical condition or illness or those with no longstanding health conditions or illnesses (39% vs. 28% vs. 31%).
92% of those with no longstanding health conditions or illnesses responded that they are well enough to exercise today, compared to 66% of those with a mental condition or illness and 56% of those with a physical condition or illness.
