AUSActive’s Barrie Elvish ‘frustrated’ by physical activity and exercise levels shown in new ABS data

Findings in the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ just released National Health Survey 2022 which show more three in four Australians fail to meet recommended physical activity guidelines for their age group have disappointed AUSactive Chief Executive Barrie Elvish.

Speaking to Australasian Leisure Management about the results from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) survey, Elvish advised that that the data “is yet again another poor report card on the nation’s physical activity and exercise participation rates.

“Although the data is almost 12 months old and doesn’t fully correlate with the more up to date AusPlay data the scenario it describes is still not a pretty picture., and in any case we have heard it all before.

“However, what is particularly frustrating is the ongoing lack of cross referencing within government departments including the ABS, Treasury, Health, Aged Care, NDIS and Employment as they all have a vested interest in the data.

“The ABS task is to report the cold statistics, Treasury is worried about Australia’s falling productivity, health is struggling to manage what is in effect a national sick care system and although Australians are living longer, for many a longer lifespan is not necessarily equating with a longer health span. And as with those with a disability, the aged are more likely to experience comorbidity issues.

“There is an ignored common thread here that has the potential to positively impact all these entrenched problems, and assist Budget pressures, if only the various departments would stop developing silo-based policies.

“Recent research reported in the Harvard Business Review has found that regular physical activity and exercise has a three-way positive benefit for productivity by increasing cognitive function, improving sleep and boosting workplace morale. The role of physical activity in preventing poor health outcomes, both physical and mental, is well established. Keeping people out of the sick system is the best way to both improve Australia’s health outcomes and the Health Budget.

“As people age, they are more likely to experience falls which are Australia’s leading cause of injury hospitalisation and death. Research indicates the best strategy to reduce the risk of falls is to undertake an exercise regime that focuses on balance and strength training. Physical activity and exercise also improves the health and wellbeing of people with a disability, reduces the incidence of comorbidity and builds social connections.

“If government departments, especially policy makers, were to talk to each other more often, they would discover many of their bureaucratic portfolio challenges were interrelated. Just as importantly they might discover some common solutions.”