Increasing numbers of people across Bristol did not get enough exercise during the pandemic – a sign that successive lockdowns made the nation more sedentary.
Sport England, which promotes sporting habits across the country, conducts an annual survey measuring people’s activity levels to help gauge the public’s health and wellbeing. Someone is classed as physically active if they do the equivalent of at least 150 minutes of “moderately intense” exercise a week on average.
This could include walking, cycling, dance, fitness and other sporting activities. But it excludes gardening.
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However, an estimated 78,600 people aged 16 and over across Bristol were classed as physically inactive in the year to November 2021. That means they did less than half an hour of moderately intense activity a week – 20.7% of the age group.
It was also an increase of 19% from 66,000 in the year to November 2019. That was the last survey period before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Across England, the number of inactive people aged 16 and over rose by an estimated 1.3 million over the two-year period to November last year – hitting 12.4 million, or 27.2% of the age group. A further 11.5% were deemed “fairly active” – doing the equivalent of 30 to 149 minutes of moderately intense activity a week – while the remaining 61.4% were active.
The results were based on a survey of more than 175,000 people across the country, the largest study of its kind. The report found that activity began to recover over the 12 months to November as social restrictions eased, although they largely stayed below pre-pandemic levels.
It also showed disparities between different groups in society. A slightly smaller proportion of women (60%) were active than men (63%), while poor and unemployed people, disabled and minority ethnic groups were all among those less likely to do 150 minutes of moderately intense exercise a week.
Tim Hollingsworth, chief executive of Sport England, said the findings showed activity levels were starting to recover. He said this was a testament to the dedication of all of those who worked to bring activities back safely when restrictions eased.
He added: “That the data tells us that this initial recovery is not universal is not a surprise and that is exactly why our Uniting the Movement strategy focuses resources and funding disproportionally towards the people and places that need the most support to be active.”
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