Key Age Headlines:
- Almost a quarter of 55+ (older adults) (24%) have not participated in physical activity in the past week, which is double that of 16–34-year-olds (younger adults) (12%), whilst 15% of 35-54 year-olds have not participated.
- Older adults are significantly more likely to walk for leisure than the other age groups – 44% [younger adults] vs. 61% [35-54-year-olds] vs. 66% [older adults]
- Younger adults are the most likely to walk for leisure with somebody else than any other age group - 60% vs. 57% vs. 43%.
- Older adults are the least likely to volunteer to support sport and physical activity in the community. Whilst younger adults are the most likely - 48% vs. 32% vs. 18%.
- Just under 2 in 3 (66%) older adults believe they have the opportunity to be physically active, which is the lower than younger adults (77%) and 35-54-year-olds (77%).
- 42% of younger adults have done less sport and physical activity due to the changes of the cost-of-living, compared to 35% of 35-54-year-olds and 21% of older adults.
- The changes in the cost-of-living have had impact on younger people more than any other age category – 64% vs. 57% vs. 32%.
- Over half (53%) of younger adults are more likely to agree that the facilities in their local area are of high quality, this is in comparison to 46% of 35-54-year-olds and 40% of older adults.
- Almost 2 in 3 of both younger adults and the 35-54-year-old categories agree that they use physical activity to help manage their mental health, compared to almost 1 in 2 older adults – 64% vs. 63% vs. 49%.
- Younger adults are more likely to find exercise enjoyable and satisfying than any of the other age groups, and younger adults’ enjoyment and satisfaction has increased 7-percentage points since the previous wave - 68% vs. 62% vs. 49%.
Active Nation (Participation and Activity Type):
- Almost a quarter of 55+ (older adults) (24%) have not participated in physical activity in the past week, which is double that of 16–34-year-olds (younger adults) (12%), whilst 15% of 35-54 year-olds have not participated.
- Younger adults are significantly more likely to participate in physical activity 2-4 days a week than older adults – 51% vs. 45%.
- Whilst older people are more likely to walk for leisure, younger people are more likely to walk for travel:
- Walking for leisure – 44% [younger adults] vs. 61% [35-54-year-olds] vs. 66% [older adults]
- Walking for travel – 32% vs. 26% vs. 22%
- 35–54-year-olds are most likely to have participated in cycling - 12% vs. 13% vs. 9%.
- Older adults are the least likely to walk for leisure with somebody else than any other age group:
- Younger adults - 60%
- 35-54-year-olds - 57%
- Older adults - 43%
- 15% of younger adults participate in team sports.
- 1 in 4 (25%) younger adults stated they attend a gym, fitness or exercise class away from home, compared to 1 in 5 (20%) 35-54-year-olds.
- Older adults are the least likely to volunteer to support sport and physical activity in the community. Whilst younger adults are the most likely:
- Younger adults – 48%
- 35-54-year-olds – 32%
- Older adults – 18%
Everyone (Inclusivity):
- Just under 2 in 3 (66%) older adults believe they have the opportunity to be physically active, which is the lower than younger adults (77%) and 35-54-year-olds (77%).
- Older adults are the least likely to agree that they can get to the local sport and physical activity facilities that appeal to them:
- Younger adults – 61%
- 35-54-year-olds – 62%
- Older adults – 51%
- 42% of younger adults have done less sport and physical activity due to the changes of the cost-of-living, compared to 35% of 35-54-year-olds and 21% of older adults.
- The changes in the cost-of-living have had impact on younger people more than any other age category – 64% vs. 57% vs. 32%.
- The cost-of-living has had a negative impact on all groups, although those from the younger adult and 35-54-year-old group report more of a negative impact than older adults – 47% vs. 48% vs. 28%.
Lifelong (Demand):
- Over half (53%) of younger adults are likely to agree that the facilities in their local area are of high quality, this is in comparison to 46% of 35-54-year-olds and 40% of older adults.
- Over half of each age category believe that there are an adequate number of facilities in their local area – 50% vs. 55% vs. 51%.
- Older adults are the least likely to have the ability to be physically active than any other age category in the survey – 83% vs. 79% vs. 62%.
- Younger adults are more likely to agree that they do not have enough time to be physically active compared to the other age groups, with older adults significantly less likely to agree than both other age groups – 50% vs. 40% vs. 18%.
- Almost 2 in 3 of both younger adults and the 35-54-year-old categories agree that they use physical activity to help manage their mental health, compared to almost 1 in 2 older adults – 64% vs. 63% vs. 49%.
Enjoyment (Confidence and Enjoyment):
- Younger adults are more likely to find exercise enjoyable and satisfying than any of the other age groups, and younger adults’ enjoyment and satisfaction has increased 7-percentage points since the previous wave:
- Younger adults – 68%
- 35-54-year-olds – 62%
- Older adults – 49%
- Younger adults are also more likely to have the confidence to be physically active in comparison to the other age groups:
- Younger adults – 63%
- 35-54-year-olds – 60%
- Older adults – 54%
- The importance of exercising regularly is seen within all age groups of respondents. Whilst almost 2 in 3 (65%) of older adults understand the importance of exercising regularly, just over 2 in 3 (67%) of 35-54-year-olds do and just under 3 in 4 (72%) of younger adults understand the importance.
- Worrying about leaving the home can be a potential barrier to participation, and younger adults are more inclined to worry about leaving the home to participate in physical activity more than any other age group – 34% vs. 28% vs. 13%.
- Younger adults are significantly more likely to be confident in a gym/health suite than older adults:
- Younger adults – 58%
- 35-54-year-olds – 49%
- Older adults – 24%
- Whilst younger adults (15%) and 35-54-year-olds (12%) believe that taking part with someone/more people makes taking part in physical activity more enjoyable, older adults believe feeling good is what makes physical activity most enjoyable (10%).
