Physical activity

Physical activity is any movement of the body that uses energy. It includes activity with movement as well as standing. For example, walking, gardening, doing the dishes and other housework, or playing with children, as well as planned exercise such as running, playing sport, swimming or going to the gym. 

Light physical activity is low intensity with gentle movement. It includes slow walking, such as walking around the home or office, and activities done while standing still, such as washing the dishes, watering the garden, waiting in a queue or working at a standing desk. For most people, the majority of daily physical activity is light.

Walking is considered a light to moderate physical activity. Slow walking is light physical activity because walking around the home or office requires little physical effort and is unlikely to produce meaningful increases in heart rate or breathing. However, walking to and from places such as public transport, walking the dog or walking for recreation are considered moderate physical activities.

Walking has been collected separately from moderate and vigorous physical activity in self-reported ABS health surveys. This has been done to improve physical activity estimates by minimising double reporting. Additionally, testing has demonstrated that respondents are often unsure whether to report time spent walking, particularly when walking to and from places. 

In ABS health surveys, walking continuously for ten minutes or more has been included in the total minutes of moderate and vigorous activity used to assess whether a respondent met the relevant physical activity guidelines.

Moderate physical activity causes a small increase in physical effort, heart rate, and breathing, while still allowing a person to comfortably hold a conversation. Examples include brisk walking or light jogging, moderate household activities such as mopping and vacuuming, and active play with children.

Moderate physical activity uses at least three times more energy than sitting at rest. The total time spent doing moderate physical activity per day or per week is an important aspect of the national physical activity guidelines.

Vigorous physical activity is high intensity and requires substantial physical effort. It causes large increases in heart rate and breathing, making it difficult for a person to maintain a steady conversation. Examples of vigorous activity include running, competitive sports such as football and soccer, and heavy manual labour.

Vigorous activity uses a lot of energy - at least six times more energy than resting, and twice as much as moderate activity. One minute of self-reported vigorous activity counts as two minutes of moderate activity when assessing whether a respondent met the relevant physical activity guidelines.

Physical activity can be defined based on how intense the movement is, that is how hard the body is working. The Metabolic Equivalent of Tasks (MET) is a unit used to estimate how much energy (by oxygen consumption) the body uses during different activities. One MET is equivalent to sitting at rest. A two MET activity uses twice as much energy as sitting at rest, a three MET activity uses three times as much energy and so on.

Physical activity intensities are defined by the number of METs within set ranges:

• inactivity is less than 1.5 METs
• light activity is 1.5 to less than 3 METs
• moderate activity is 3 to less than 6 METs
• vigorous activity is 6 or more METs. 

Examples of activities and their estimated METs:

Self-reported physical activity was collected in NNPAS 2023 and NATSINPAS 2023 for pre-school and school aged children. Limited self-reported information is available in NHS 2022 and NATSIHS 2022-2023 for young people aged 15–17 years. Directly measured physical activity data from accelerometers was collected from children aged 5–17 years.

Types of and time spent doing physical activity (school-aged children)

The ABS collected child physical activity in the NNPAS 2023 and NATSINPAS 2023 (non-remote) differently from adult physical activity in those surveys and for 15–17 year olds in the NHS 2022 and NATSIHS 2022-23 (non-remote). Instead of asking the amount of moderate or vigorous activity as occurs for adults, the self-report questionnaire asked about walking and riding to get to places, then asked the respondent to name specific activities the child had undertaken. These could include:

• walking, jogging or running
• household and gardening chores such as mopping, sweeping or raking
• playing games such as chasey, hopscotch or ‘rough and tumble’
• group sports and exercise activities such as Physical Education {PE} classes, football, soccer or tennis.

Respondents reported the amount of time spent doing each activity in hours and minutes. Activities were coded during processing using the child physical activity classification. See the child physical activity classification in the NNPAS 2023 and NATSINPAS 2023 data item lists.

Active transport (school-aged children)

Active transport is any form of physical activity undertaken to get to and from places. The NNPAS 2023 and NATSINPAS 2023 (non-remote) collected self-report active transport done by school aged children to get to school and other places. The following are modes of active transport:

• walking (including to and from public transport)
• riding a bike or skateboard/scooter/rollerblades.

The amount of time spent walking to and from places was also collected in NHS 2022 and NATSIHS 2022-2023 (non-remote) for young people aged 15–17 years.

Muscle and bone strengthening activities (school-aged children)

Muscle and bone strengthening activities make muscles work harder and put stress on bones, helping them become stronger and healthier. Examples include walking, playing some sports (e.g., football, basketball) and activities like yoga and Pilates.

Respondents in NNPAS 2023 and NATSINPAS 2023 (non-remote) were not asked directly if their school-aged child did any muscle and bone strengthening activities. Instead, a flag was applied to each type of activity reported against the child physical activity classification during processing. This was developed based on expert advice. For an activity to be flagged as muscle and bone strengthening, it needed to include both muscle strengthening and bone strengthening elements. By comparing each activity against the applied flag, the amount of time spent and number of days doing muscle and bone strengthening activities was calculated. See the data item list in data downloads from NNPAS 2023 and NATSINPAS 2023 for the list of activities with the muscle and bone strengthening flag.

Strength or toning activities (15–17 years)

Young people aged 15–17 years in NHS 2022 and NATSIHS 2022-23 (non-remote) could report if they had done any strength or toning activities in the last week. See Adult Strength or Toning below for more information.

Indoor and outdoor physical activity (pre-school children)

Physical activity for pre-school children in the NNPAS 2023 and NATSINPAS 2023 (non-remote) was separated into indoor and outdoor activities. The amount of time spent doing indoor and outdoor activity was used to produce the total physical activity done by pre-school aged children.

Examples of indoor activities included:

• dancing
• ‘rough and tumble’ play
• helping set the table.

Examples of outdoor activities included:

• throwing a ball
• walking/running
• playing in playground or sandpits.

Organised activities (school-aged children)

Organised activities are any physical activities organised by a club, association, school or other organisation. School aged children in the NNPAS 2023 and NATSINPAS 2023 (non-remote) were asked if any of the physical activities they undertook during the reference period were organised activities.

Barriers to physical activity (15–17 years)

NATSINPAS 2023 respondents aged 15 years and over living in non-remote areas were asked about barriers to doing as much physical activity as they would like to do. See Adult physical activity: Barriers to physical activity for more detailed information.

Child physical activity in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collections

In remote areas of the NATSIHS 2022-23 and NATSINPAS 2023, limited information is available for types of physical activity. Respondents selected from a list of physical activity types which included, for example:

• playing sports such as football, netball or cricket
• swimming or running
• hunting, gathering bush foods or fishing
• dancing, including ceremonial dancing
• housework, gardening or heavy yard work.

Additionally, respondents selected from a list the places they had walked to, which included, for example:

• local shops or store
• friend’s or relative’s house
• health clinic or school
• community, sports or youth centre
• work, job centre or Centrelink.

The respondent was then asked whether they would have walked and/or done these physical activities for more or less than an hour in total on the day prior to the interview. Respondents were also asked to estimate if the amount of activity they had done was typical or more/less than usual. 

Self-reported adult physical activity was collected in NHS 2022, NATSIHS 2022-23 and NATSINPAS 2023. Only limited self-reported information was collected in NNPAS 2023. Directly measured Adult physical activity data from accelerometers was collected in NNPAS 2023 and NATSINPAS 2023.

Types of and time spent doing physical activities

The types of adult physical activities data vary by collection. 

In NHS 2022 and non-remote areas of the NATSIHS 2022-23 and NATSINPAS 2023, respondents were asked about:

• time spent walking for exercise, recreation or sport, walking to get to places
• time spent doing moderate and vigorous physical activity
• the number of days doing strength or toning activities in the reference period. 

See self-reported light, moderate and vigorous physical activity.

In NATSINPAS 2023 (non-remote), adults were asked to report the types of moderate and vigorous physical activity they did in the last week. These activities could include:

• walking, jogging or running
• household or gardening chores such as mopping, sweeping or yard work
• food collection such as bush food gathering and hunting
• fitness activities such as aerobics or weight training
• group sports activities such as football or rugby. 

Respondents were asked to name the moderate and vigorous activities they had undertaken. Activities were coded during data processing using the adult physical activity classification. See the adult physical activity classification in the NATSINPAS 2023 data item lists.

Physical activity while working

In NHS 2022 and non-remote areas of NATSIHS 2022-23 and NATSINPAS 2023, respondents were asked to report walking, moderate and vigorous activity for exercise and while working separately. This was to maximise respondent recall and include all forms of activity done throughout the reference period.

Examples of physical activity while working can include:

• brisk walking
• lifting and carrying objects
• digging and construction work.

For each type of activity reported (e.g. walking for exercise, recreation or sport, moderate physical activity while working), the respondent provided the amount of time spent doing that activity. Physical activity data which assesses whether the guidelines were met is available, including and excluding physical activity done while working.

Strength or toning activities

Strength or toning activities are any activities done to increase muscle strength or tone. They can include lifting weights, resistance training, yoga and Pilates. Respondents were asked which days they did strength and toning activities in the last week. The amount of time doing these activities was not collected.

The NHS 2022 and NATSIHS 2022-23 (non-remote) collected data on strength and toning undertaken during moderate or vigorous physical activity for adults. The NNPAS 2023 and NATSINPAS 2023 (non-remote) only collected strength or toning data for adults. Strength or toning activities were not collected in remote areas in NATSIHS 2022-23 or NATSINPAS 2023.

Organised activities

Organised activities are any physical activities organised by a club, association, school or other organisation. In NATSINPAS 2023 (non-remote), adult respondents in non-remote areas were asked if any physical activities they undertook in the previous week were organised activities. This information is not available for adults in any other health survey collections.

Barriers to physical activity

In NATSINPAS 2023 (non-remote areas), respondents were asked if they had done as much physical activity in the last week as they would have liked, and if not, what were the reasons that prevented them from doing more. Reasons could include, for example:

• work/study/parenting commitments
• health and motivation reasons
• costs and/or lack of facilities
• transport
• weather conditions.

Respondents who reported more than one reason were also asked which was the main reason they did not do as much physical activity as they would have liked in the last week.

Adult physical activity in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collections

In remote areas of the NATSIHS 2022-23 and NATSINPAS 2023, limited information is available for types of physical activity. Respondents selected from a list of physical activity types which included:

• playing sports such as football, netball or cricket
• swimming or running
• hunting, gathering bush foods or fishing
• dancing, including ceremonial dancing
• housework, gardening or heavy yard work.

Additionally, respondents selected from a list the places they had walked to, which included:

• local shops or store
• friend’s or relative’s house
• health clinic or school
• community, sports or youth centre
• work, job centre or Centrelink.

The respondent was then asked whether they would have walked and/or done these physical activities for more or less than half an hour in total on the day prior to the interview. Respondents were asked to estimate if the amount of activity they had done was typical or more/less than usual. 

The NHS 2022, NATSIHS 2022-23 (non-remote areas) and NATSINPAS 2023 (non-remote) collected amount of time spent doing moderate and vigorous physical activity using the self-report questionnaire. For definitions of physical activity intensity types, see Physical Activity.

Response error may occur in the following ways:

• Respondents being unsure whether to include types of physical activity such as walking or activity done while working
• Respondents reporting physical activity twice on different questions.

The self-report questionnaires were designed to minimise these errors by asking respondents about each physical activity type in the following order:

1. Walking continuously for 10 minutes or more 
2. Moderate activity
3. Vigorous activity

Self-reported light physical activity

The ABS has not collected self-reported light physical activity data due to respondent recall difficulties and respondent burden. For estimates of light physical activity see Directly measured light, moderate and vigorous activity.

Self-reported walking continuously for 10 minutes or more

Adults were asked to estimate how much time they spent walking continuously for 10 minutes or more for exercise, recreation and sport, and to get to places. Respondents were asked to estimate the amount of time on each day over the week prior to the interview.

Example definition of walking continuously for 10 minutes or more:

Self-reported moderate physical activity

Respondents were asked to estimate the amount of time they spent doing moderate physical activity on each day of the week prior to the interview. Separate questions were asked for moderate activity done for exercise and moderate activity done while working. Unlike child physical activity, adults in the NHS 2022 and NATSIHS 2022-23 (non-remote) were not asked to report the specific individual activities. In NATSINPAS 2023 (non-remote), adults reported the specific individual activities but not the time spent on each activity. Instead, a total time in hours and minutes of all moderate activities done on a given day was estimated by the respondent.

Respondents were instructed to exclude any physical activity they had reported in previous questions i.e., excluding time spent walking continuously for 10 minutes or more.

Example definition of moderate physical activity:

Self-reported vigorous physical activity

Respondents were asked to estimate the amount of time they spent doing vigorous physical activity on each day of the week prior to the interview. Separate questions were asked for vigorous activity done for exercise and vigorous activity done while working. Unlike child physical activity, adults in the NHS 2022 and NATSIHS 2022-23 (non-remote) were not asked to report the specific individual activities. In NATSINPAS 2023 (non-remote), adults reported the specific individual activities but not the time spent on each activity. Instead, a total time in hours and minutes of all vigorous activities done on a given day was estimated by the respondent.

Respondents were instructed to exclude any physical activity they have reported in previous questions i.e., excluding time spent walking continuously for 10 minutes or more and reported vigorous physical activity.

Example definition of vigorous physical activity:

Directly measured data from accelerometers provide estimates of time spent in light, moderate and vigorous physical activity by looking at when acceleration stays above certain levels. These are called cut-points (thresholds). 

Cut‑points act like boundaries that sort movement into different intensity levels. The accelerometer records thousands of small movements each day. By applying these thresholds, the data can be grouped into recognised categories such as 'light', 'moderate', or 'vigorous' activity. This makes the data easier to interpret and compare across people and studies.

The device was worn on the wrist of the dominant hand, where possible. This was done to improve comparability across respondents (by using the same wrist for everyone) and to align with other population accelerometer studies, such as the UK Biobank[2].

Acceleration thresholds to define activity levels (mg)

The thresholds used by the ABS follow those developed by Hildebrand et al.[1][3] using the GENEActiv accelerometer. The methods were chosen because the study protocols were like those used in the IHMHS and both devices rely on the same sensor. However, one difference is that the Hildebrand et al. study placed the device on the non-dominant wrist, while the ABS used the dominant wrist.

The thresholds were derived using the associated Metabolic Equivalent (MET), where:

• light activity is 1.5 to less than 3 METs
• moderate activity is 3 to less than 6 METs
• vigorous activity is 6 or more METs. 

Because children typically move differently to adults, the study used age-specific acceleration thresholds for children aged 5–17 and adults aged 18 years and over. The full list of thresholds is shown below.

Acceleration thresholds to define activity levels (mg), by age group

Activity during waking hours versus main sleep period

Activity data are classified into two periods: waking hours and the main sleep period. Activity recorded during the main sleep period is typically low and may reflect behaviours such as restlessness during sleep, brief periods of waking (for example, getting out of bed for a short time) or activity among people who are active during sleep.

Physical activity estimates published in NNPAS: Measured Physical Activity and Sleep and NATSINPAS 2023 are based on waking hours only. Microdata includes activity measures for the full 24-hour period, allowing users to derive alternative measures – such as including activity during the sleep period - if required.

Limitations to physical activity measured by wrist worn devices

Wrist‑worn accelerometers primarily measure movement of the wrist and are therefore limited in their ability to capture certain types of physical activity. As a result, some activities may be underestimated or misclassified. These include:

• lower‑body dominant activities with minimal arm movement, such as cycling, stationary cycling, or leg press exercises, where energy expenditure may be high, but wrist movement is limited
• load‑bearing and resistance‑based activities, including weightlifting, carrying heavy objects, and strength training, particularly when movements are slow or involve static exertion
• activities involving constrained or supported arm movement, such as pushing a shopping trolley, using mobility aids, or holding handles or rails (for example, during treadmill use)
• water‑based activities, including swimming and water aerobics, where devices may be removed (particularly if swimming below 1.5m) or movement patterns differ from land‑based activities
• occupational or domestic activities involving static postures, such as prolonged standing, kneeling, or squatting, which may involve physical effort without substantial arm movement
• cycling and vehicle‑based travel, where vibration or posture may be inconsistently detected or misclassified.

These limitations should be considered when interpreting physical activity estimates derived from accelerometers. While wrist placement improves wear compliance (say compared to a hip-worn device) and captures a broad range of movement, it does not directly measure energy expenditure and may not fully reflect all forms of physical activity. Where relevant, users may wish to supplement analysis with additional data sources or apply analytical adjustments.

Periods or ’bouts’ of activity

To complement the minutes of activity, the analysis also identified bouts of activity. Bouts capture how movement accumulates in continuous blocks rather than as isolated moments. 

Bouts were created for inactivity, light activity, and moderate‑to‑vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and were classified as follows:

To ensure these segments reflected sustained behaviour, a bout was only counted if participants maintained the relevant intensity for at least 80% of the bout duration. This tolerance allows for natural pauses or brief dips in movement while still representing a continuous episode of activity. For example, a labourer with 15 minutes of heavy construction work (counted as moderate-to-vigorous activity) may take several small breaks of up to three minutes in total over the bout duration.  These bouts capture more than just what activity occurs, it also captures how it is patterned across the day. 

1. Hildebrand, M., van Hees, V., Hansen, B., Ekelund, U. 2014. Age group comparability of raw accelerometer output from wrist- and hip-worn monitors. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 46(9), 1816–1824. https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0000000000000289
2. Doherty, A., Jackson, D., Hammerla, N., Plötz, T., Olivier, P., Granat, M. H., et al. 2017. Large scale population assessment of physical activity using wrist worn accelerometers: The UK Biobank study. PLoS ONE, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0169649
3. Hildebrand, M., Hansen, B., van Hees, V., Ekelund, U. 2016. Evaluation of raw acceleration sedentary thresholds in children and adults. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 27(12), 1814–1823. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12795