A record number of adults in England are now physically active, with more than 30 million people meeting the recommended exercise threshold, according to Sport England’s latest Active Lives survey. The proportion of adults achieving the Chief Medical Officers’ guideline of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week has risen to 64.6%, the highest level since records began.
Economic Impact of Increased Activity
Sport England highlights that this surge in physical activity provides a significant economic boost to the country. Increased productivity and a reduced burden on the National Health Service are among the key benefits. Chief Executive Simon Hayes stated: “It’s great to see continued growth in the number of people taking part in physical activity, with more adults than ever enjoying the benefit of playing sport and moving. It is testament to the incredible work of so many people across the sector, including the millions of volunteers without whom the system could not operate.”
Inequalities Persist Despite Overall Progress
Despite the overall positive trend, disparities remain. Women, black and Asian individuals, older adults, people with disabilities, and those on lower incomes are still less likely to be active. Sport Minister Stephanie Peacock acknowledged this: “It’s great to see that more people are getting active, but inequalities within who is taking part still exist. We believe that everyone should be able to reap the benefits of sport and physical activity. That’s why the Government is taking a place-based approach to sport funding to make sure the right facilities reach the right communities.”
The government has committed £250 million through Sport England to target areas with the highest inactivity levels and at least £400 million into multi-sport community facilities. Hayes added: “We will continue to focus our efforts on working with partners to ensure that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has the opportunity to be physically active and enjoy the benefits it brings. We will be setting out more detailed plans for how we intend to do this over the next five years in the coming weeks.”
The number of active adults has increased by 3.3 million since data collection began a decade ago, with over 30 million now classed as active. This milestone underscores the growing recognition of physical activity’s role in public health and economic vitality.
