ADULTS IN REMOTE AREAS

Comparability Data for physical activity is not comparable between remote and non-remote areas. For more information see the Remote Areas (5 years and over) section of this publication.

In 2012-13, just over half of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults in remote areas (55%) did more than the recommended 30 minutes of physical activity on the day prior to the interview, with the rate higher for men than women (62% compared with 49%). However women were more likely to do housework, gardening or heavy yardwork than men (52% compared with 30%). Household, gardening and heavy yardwork were excluded from the calculation of meeting the recommended 30 minutes, and this may explain the difference between the physical activity rates for men and women. These activities were excluded to replicate the activities covered by the Active Australia guidelines.

The most common type of physical activity for adults was walking to places, with seven in ten (71%) adults walking to places on the day prior to the interview. Cultural activities of hunting or gathering for bush foods, or going fishing saw one in ten (11%) participating. Other physical activities included playing football or soccer (4%) and running (4%). These activities were similar to the activities reported by children aged 5-17 years in remote areas.

In contrast, one in five adults (21%) in remote areas did not participate in any physical activity on the day prior to the interview. The proportion of people physically active decreased with age with double the proportion of people aged 55 years and over doing no physical activity compared with the 18-24 year age group (33% compared with 13%).

The most common sedentary activities included eating meals (85%) closely followed by yarning with family or friends (83%). Watching TV, videos, Blu-ray or DVDs was also popular with over seven out of every ten (73%) adults undertaking this sedentary activity. The type of sedentary activity also differed among men and women, with women more likely to use the phone than men (36% compared with 28%).

For more information, see Table 17 on the Downloads page of this publication.