Activity Levels and Exercise

This measure relates to:
Te OrangaWaioraToiora
"Healthy lifestyle is easier down here than it was in Auckland - access to beach, green areas (at home and at work). Hagley park and botannic gardens are awesome. Plenty of gyms available to choose from"  [City Health Profile participant]
 

Physical activity is protective against heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and several cancers (colon, post-menopausal breast, and endometrium).  Regular physical activity can also reduce the risk and/or improve outcomes for the following conditions:

  • depression
  • high blood pressure
  • obesity
  • osteoporosis
  • osteoarthritis
  • stroke, and
  • some respiratory conditions.

The Ministry of Health recommends that adults do at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity (e.g. brisk walking) on most if not all days of the week. The 2006/07 New Zealand Health Survey found that 49.9% of adults in the Canterbury DHB area achieved the national physical activity guideline compared with 50.5% of all New Zealand adults.  Nationally, activity declined in older adulthood, and women were significantly less likely than men to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily in all age groups. Barriers to physical activity vary for different groups.

Read the full issue summary on activity levels and exercise [PDF].

"Healthy lifestyle is easier down here than it was in Auckland - access to beach, green areas (at home and at work). Hagley park and botannic gardens are awesome. Plenty of gyms available to choose from"  [City Health Profile participant]