UK Trends For Levels Of Physical Activity In Adults And Adolescents And What The Impact On Health Is
- Head 2 Toe Osteopathy
- Oct 6
- 2 min read
In the UK, adult physical activity levels have modestly increased over the past decade, but wide inequalities and concerning trends persist, especially among adolescents. Physical inactivity remains a major public health risk, directly impacting the rates of chronic disease and overall population health.
Adult Physical Activity Trends
Between November 2023 and November 2024, 63.7% of adults in England met guidelines for 150+ minutes of moderate physical activity weekly, up from about 61% in 2016, representing a gradual increase in active adults to around 30 million people.
Despite this rise, around 22% of adults in England remain physically inactive, meaning they do less than 30 minutes of moderate activity weekly.
Activity tends to decline sharply with age, and there are notable disparities based on gender, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity.
Adolescent Physical Activity Trends
Only 48% of children in England meet the Chief Medical Officers’ target of 60 minutes of daily activity, representing over 2.2 million doing less than 30 minutes each day—a figure that has worsened compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Girls, children with disabilities, and those from deprived backgrounds are especially unlikely to be adequately active.
Regional data shows some boroughs outperforming the national average, but inequalities remain pronounced.
Health Impact of (In)activity
Physical inactivity is associated with 1 in 6 UK deaths and costs the nation £7.4 billion annually, including nearly £1 billion to the NHS.
Sufficient physical activity reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, several cancers, depression, dementia, and premature death by up to 30%.
In children, regular activity is linked to improved physical development, school readiness, mental wellbeing, and reduced obesity risk.
Together, these trends underscore the ongoing need for robust action to support healthy movement for all ages across the UK.
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