England has seen unprecedented levels of physical activity, with over 30 million adults achieving the advised 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly, according to the most recent Active Lives survey. The 10th installment of this authoritative report highlights a notable increase in participation among seniors, including an 11% rise for those aged 75 and older over the last 10 years. Progress is also evident among individuals with disabilities. However, persistent disparities remain, with no advancements in black and Asian groups over the decade and a drop in activity among the most economically disadvantaged. Simon Hayes, chief executive of Sport England, stated that the ongoing increase in active individuals is encouraging, as more adults than ever are reaping the rewards of sports and movement. He credited the efforts of countless sector workers and volunteers. Yet, the report indicates that progress is uneven, influenced by factors like location, economic status, gender, and ethnicity. Data reveals widening gaps across ethnicities, income levels, and regions over the past 10 years. Activity among white British adults has climbed 3% to 66%, while rates for black and Asian adults (excluding Chinese) have remained steady at 57% and 56%. Among the least wealthy, activity has improved post-pandemic but stands at 53.8% meeting the target, down from 54.8% a decade ago. Regionally, the West Midlands is the least active area, with just 1.7% growth over 10 years, compared to 3.5% in the southwest, the most active. In total, 3.3 million more people are regularly active since the survey started, with an additional 859,000 joining in the last year—the largest increase since 2021-22, post-COVID recovery. Demographically, older adults have fueled this growth, with a 7% rise for those 55 to 74 and a 10.9% increase for those 75 and up. Shifts in behavior have helped, including a sustained post-pandemic boost in leisure walking, with 1.3 million more participants than pre-2020. Fitness pursuits, such as gym visits or classes, have risen annually since the pandemic, reaching a 10-year peak of 15.3 million. Nick Pontefract, Sport England’s chief strategy officer, noted this reflects a growing national recognition of activity’s advantages for physical health, mental health, and personal and community growth, with people adopting varied ways to stay active daily.
