The information being displayed below are either significant differences between the demographic data, or significant changes since the previous wave. If you are looking for a more in-depth analysis, please see factsheets for wave 8 and 9.
- The proportion of men walking for leisure has increased by 9-percentage-points since the previous wave,while women’s rates have remained the same.
- Walking for leisure for 2-4 days has decreased by 13-percentage-points for men whilst increasing 10-percentage-points for walking 5+ days. For women, rates have remained similar to previous waves.
- Females are more likely to have done exercise on 0 days in the past week compared to males (13% vs. 23%)
- Females significantly more likely to participate in walking for leisure with somebody, as opposed to males (40% vs. 51%)
- Males are significantly more likely to be confident using a gym/health and fitness suite than females (47% vs. 38%).
- Males are also significantly more likely to be confident using parks (used for informal play, running walking etc.) than females (73% vs. 64%).
- More than 1 in 3 women agreed that they do not enjoy participating in physical activity on their own, this is in comparison to just under 1 in 4 men (24% vs. 35%).
- 26% of women worry about leaving their home to take part in physical activity, this in comparison to 17% of men.
- Men are significantly more likely than women to participate in physical activity to manage their physical and mental health:
- Physical health – 63% vs. 51%
- Mental health – 65% vs. 56%
- There has also been a 7-percentage-point increase in male respondents participating in physical activity to manage their mental health since the previous wave in August 2023.
- Men are significantly more likely to say that they intend to volunteer to support sport and physical activity in the next 12 months than women (40% vs. 31%).
- 36% of women believe that facilities in their local area are affordable, this in comparison to 45% of men.
- 37% of women have been doing less sport and physical activity due to the changes in cost-of-living compared to 29% of men.
