HOW ACTIVE ARE AUSTRALIANS?

Week 2

What you need to know• Current activity levels of Australians

• Activity levels of adults and children

• Methods of measuring intensity

How Active are Australians?• True of False:

– 60% of men and 53% of women are active enough to achieve health benefits

– Those more likely to be active are male, young and well educated

– 60% of Indigenous Australians have inadequate activity levels

– Walking is the most popular activity– 20-25% of children and adolescents are

overweight– 62% of children participate in sport

outside of school hours

Data Analysis• Look through the graphs and answer

the attached questions

• It is vital that you can interpret graphs and tables, especially for the end of year exam

Activity• Complete activity 4, p.11

– Design a survey– Survey a child, young person, adult and older

person– Survey questions to focus on F, I, D, T– Graph results using Microsoft Excel

• Answer the following questions1. What were the most popular activities?2. Does each person reach the NPAG? Explain3. Describe the differences in activity types

between the various people and why this may be the case

4. Provide suggestions for each person as to how they may incorporate greater levels of physical activity

Barriers to Participation• Brainstorm all the barriers that you

can think of to participating in physical activity

Barriers to ParticipationGender - Greater proportions of males participate in sport and physical activity than females. ____________ generally have less opportunity and less access to sporting activities

Socioeconomic Status – Well educated white collar workers are the most physically active Australians

Income – People with higher incomes can participate in a wider variety of activities and more often

Race – People born in Australia are more active than those who were not. Race is often used as a form of discrimination, thus reducing ________________.

Geographic Location – Where you live can limit access to facilities and specific sports

Information obtained from Rod Kirkwood – Horsham College

Barriers to Participation• Other barriers

– Lack of ______ due to other commitments– Lack of fun and enjoyment– Lack of self-motivation– Low self-efficacy– Injury– Lack of self-management skills– Lack of encouragement and _________– Poor coaching– Negative environmental factors– Increasing influence of technology– Increased reliance on motorised transport– Increased demand on public open space– Changing leisure patterns– Increased demands on education curriculum

Assessment of Physical Activity Intensity• Intensity = how hard you are

working

• Variety of methods1. Talk test

2. Target heart rate

3. Perceived exertion (Borg rating scale)

4. Metabolic equivalent (MET) level

1. Talk Test• Low intensity

– Able to sing

• Moderate intensity– Able to have a conversation

• Vigorous intensity– Too out-of-breath to carry out a

conversation

2. Target Heart Rate• Maximum HR = 220 – age

– Eg:

• Moderate intensity– 50-70% HR max– Eg:

• Vigorous intensity– 70-85% HR max– Eg:

3. Perceived Exertion (Borg Rating Scale)• How hard you feel your body is

working

• Scale is from 6-20– 6 = no exertion at all– 20 = maximal exertion

4. Metabolic Equivalent (MET) Level• A MET is the unit used to measure

the amount of oxygen used by the body during physical activity

• 1 MET = energy (oxygen) used by the body as you sit quietly

• Moderate intensity– 3-6 METs

• Vigorous intensity– 6+ METs

Intensity Examples• Low intensity

• Moderate intensity

• Vigorous intensity