Active Nation (participation & activity type):
- Those who were from the less deprived socioeconomic backgrounds were more likely to be active for 30+ minutes 2-4 days and 5+ days a week:
- 2-4 days a week (51% vs. 46%)
- 5+ days a week (27% vs. 22%)
- However, those from the most deprived socioeconomic backgrounds were more likely to have done 0 days of 30+ minutes of physical activity, compared to least deprived (21% vs. 14%)
- Since January 2023, the proportion of adults doing 0 days of physical activity has decreased among both the least and most deprived.
- Adults from a less deprived socioeconomic background were more likely to have participated in all of the surveyed activities (apart from the other category), including:
- Running or jogging (22% vs. 12%)
- Walking (72% vs. 66%)
- Swimming (12% vs. 8%)
- Cycling (12% vs. 9%)
- Team sports (8% vs. 3%)
- Home-based activities (19% vs. 16%)
- 62% of adults from the most socioeconomically deprived backgrounds walked for travel 2-4 days a week, compared to 51% of those from less deprived socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Since January 2023, walking for travel 2-4 days a week has increased by 19-percentage-points for more deprived adults, in comparison to a decrease of 7-percentage-points for those who are less deprived.
- 15% of those from a more deprived background walked for travel with a child and/or children, in comparison to 13% of those from a less deprived background. However, those from a less deprived background (51%) were more likely to walk for leisure with someone else than those from a more deprived background (49%).
- Gym usage (away from the home) was higher for those who were less deprived than those who were more deprived.
- Gym usage 2-4 days (56% vs. 50%)
- Gym usage 5+ days (21% vs. 20%)
Everyone (inclusivity):
- 35% of those from more deprived backgrounds were likely to agree that local sport and physical activity facilities are affordable, compared to 35% of those from a less deprived background.
- Adults from the least deprived socioeconomic backgrounds (65%) were more likely to be able to get to the local facilities that appeal to them than counterparts who were more deprived backgrounds (52%).
- The cost-of-living increase was seen to have had more of a negative impact on those from the least deprived backgrounds (41%), than those from the more deprived backgrounds (36%).
- People who are less deprived (35%) have stated that they have started doing less sport and physical activity since the cost-of-living increases, compared to the more deprived (27%).
- The cost-of-living increases have impacted the sport and physical activity participation levels of the more deprived (45%) less than the least deprived (50%).
- 51% of the least deprived adults agreed there were high quality sport and physical activity facilities in their local area compared to 41% of adults who were more deprived.
Lifelong (motivation & demand):
- The main motivation for physical activity for both the most (63%) and least deprived (56%) adults to be physically healthy.
- 37% of those who were less deprived agreed that they did not have enough time for physical activity compared to 30% of people who were more deprived.
- Since January 2023, there has been a 4-percentage-point increase for those who were more deprived who agree that they do not have enough time to be physically active due to other commitments, compared to a 4-percentage-point decrease for those who were less deprived.
- People who were less deprived were more likely to find regular exercise important to them than people who were more deprived:
- Less deprived – 74%
- More deprived – 63%
- 76% of the least deprived adults believe they had the opportunity to be physically active compared to 67% of the more deprived adults.
- Both the least and most deprived cite walking and swimming as the activities they would like to do more of in future, with the more deprived adults wanting to do more of walking and the less deprived wanting to do more of swimming:
- Walking (61% vs. 64%)
- Swimming (44% vs. 38%)
- Over half of both the most and least deprived adults appreciated the role which physical activity has on improving their mental health, however, more from less deprived backgrounds exercise to help manage their mental health compared to those from more deprived backgrounds:
- Less deprived – 65%
- More deprived – 51%
Enjoyment (confidence & enjoyment):
- 32% of the more deprived adults do not enjoy taking part in physical activity on their own – compared to 28% of those less deprived.
- 67% of less deprived adults enjoyed and were satisfied with physical activity which is an 8-percentage-point increase since January 2023, compared to 53% for the more deprived group which is a 1-percentage-point increase in the same timescale.
- Less deprived adults (67%) have more confidence to be physically active than those who are more deprived (53%).
- Half (50%) of those situated in the more deprived socioeconomic areas do not feel confident participating in sport on grass pitches, compared to 38% of those from least deprived areas.
- 40% of less deprived adults were confident using studios used for aerobics, martial arts, yoga, spinning etc., which was almost twice as likely than 21% of those who are more deprived.
- Similarly, adults from less deprived backgrounds were more likely to be confident using gyms and health suites (53% vs. 29%) and swimming pools (56% vs. 44%) than those who are more deprived.
- Both the least and most deprived generally felt comfortable using the facilities which were surveyed, whilst those who are more deprived felt slightly more comfortable:
- Indoor gyms and fitness centres (93% vs. 88%)
- Indoor swimming pools (91% vs. 86%)
- Indoor grass/artificial pitches (86% vs. 75%)
- Indoor courts (78% vs. 73%)
