Abstract

<jats:list list-type="explicit-label"> <jats:list-item>Summary</jats:list-item> <jats:list-item>Introduction</jats:list-item> <jats:list-item>Definition and measurement of physical activity</jats:list-item> <jats:list-item> <jats:italic>Key points</jats:italic> </jats:list-item> <jats:list-item>Physical activity levels in the UK</jats:list-item> <jats:list-item> <jats:italic>Key points</jats:italic> </jats:list-item> <jats:list-item>Physiological effects of physical activity</jats:list-item> <jats:list-item> <jats:italic>Key points</jats:italic> </jats:list-item> <jats:list-item>Physical activity in health and disease</jats:list-item> <jats:list-item> <jats:italic>Key points</jats:italic> </jats:list-item> <jats:list-item>Physical activity and public health</jats:list-item> <jats:list-item> <jats:italic>Key points</jats:italic> </jats:list-item> <jats:list-item>Conclusions</jats:list-item> </jats:list> <jats:bold>Summary </jats:bold> Physical activity levels in the UK are low. Only 35% of men and 24% of women reach the recommended 30 minutes of moderate‐intensity physical activity at least five times a week. Men tend to be more active than women at all ages, and there is a marked decline in physical activity with age in both sexes. Children are more active than adults. Seventy per cent of boys and 61% of girls reach the recommended 60 minutes of moderate‐intensity physical activity a day. Boys tend to be more active than girls and there is a decline in physical activity as children reach adolescence, which is more marked in girls. For adults and children, lower‐income groups have particularly low physical activity levels. Although physical activity levels in adults and children have been relatively stable in recent years, there is some evidence to suggest a decline in occupational activity from the 1990s onwards, and a decrease in active transport to school and time spent in school physical education lessons. This has coincided with an upward trend in sports par...