Wrist-worn devices give insights into Aussies’ physical activity

Wrist-worn devices are offering insights into Australians’ physical activity, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Matthew Montgomery, ABS head of health statistics, said: ‘This is the first ABS report on Australians’ physical activity and sleep using wrist-worn devices that record movement.

‘It showed that adults did four minutes a day of vigorous physical activity and one hour and 45 minutes a day of moderate physical activity on average in 2023.

‘We also learned that adults spent a further two hours and 37 minutes a day doing light physical activity and were inactive for 11 hours and 54 minutes a day, outside of sleeping overnight.

‘Five to 11 year-olds did one hour and 24 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity, compared to only 40 minutes for teens,’ said Mr. Montgomery.

This report also includes insights into sleep patterns.

• Adults slept for seven hours and 36 minutes each night on average, sleeping longer on weekend nights (seven hours and 55 minutes).
• One in 10 (9.1 per cent) adults slept for less than six hours a night on average.
• Children aged 12 to 17 years who had screens in their bedroom slept 29 minutes less on average than those who did not.

More information can be found from the Measured physical activity and sleep topic on the ABS website.