Active Lives Adult Survey - November 2019/20 Report

Themes
COVID-19 Recovery, Health & Wellbeing*, Physical Activity, Social & Community*, Under Represented Groups*
Sub Themes
Mental Health, Physical Health, Deprivation, Ethnically Diverse Communities, Disability, Females, Lower socio-economic groups
Geographic Area
National
Lifestages
Adults, Older Adults
Sport / Activity
Cycling, Swimming, Exercise Class, Gym/Health Club, Hiking, Walking, Mental Health
This report provides an update on the sporting and physical activity behaviours of adults (16+) in England in the 12 months from November 2019 - November 2020. This reporting period covered includes the eight months of restrictions imposed in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The November 2019/20 national results show that

  • The majority of physically active adults in England managed to maintain their habits despite the challenges of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. However, the first eight months of coronavirus restrictions, as well as the storms that had a huge impact on outdoor activity in early 2020, also led to a worrying increase in the number of people who were inactive – doing less than 30 minutes of activity a week or nothing at all.
  • While the restrictions associated with the pandemic had an unprecedented impact on activity levels, many people were able to adapt and find ways to return to activity as restrictions eased.
  • People's relationship with sport and physical activity changed across the various different phases of coronavirus restrictions with some returning to activity once restrictions eased, and some who didn't.
  • Not all groups or demographics were affected equally, with women, young people aged 16-24, over 75s, disabled people and people with long-term health conditions, and those from Black, Asian, and other minority ethnic backgrounds most negatively impacted beyond the initial lockdown period.

Age: Activity levels fell for both the 16-34 and 35-54 age groups compared to 12 months ago. This continues the downward trend seen before the pandemic for the 16-34 age group, with the proportion who are active having fallen a further 2.6%/410k compared to the previous 12 months. Within this, it's the 16-24 age group particularly driving the decreases. Activity levels had been growing strongly amongst the 55-74 and 75+ age groups prior to the coronavirus pandemic, however, many of these gains have been lost as activity levels fell notably when restrictions were introduced

Gender: Both men (-2.4%) and women (-1.4%) saw decreases in activity levels over the year as a whole. However, while male activity levels dropped by a larger amount in the initial lockdown between mid-March to mid-May (-8.9% versus –5.4%) they recovered more quickly, while female activity levels remained consistently lower than 12 months earlier.

Socio-economic groups: Activity levels fell amongst all socio-economic groups compared to the same period a year ago. However, the fall was larger for those from lower socio-economic groups (-2.1%) than those from higher groups (-0.9%) and as such, the inequalities we were already seeing have widened.

Ethnicity: The impact of the pandemic has disproportionately impacted those of Asian and Black backgrounds and, as such, inequalities that already existed have widened. Disabled people and people with long-term health conditions: Decreases were the greatest during the initial lockdown phase amongst both those with and without a disability or long-term health condition – in line with the national picture.

You can view Sport England's summary here.