Results From Australia’s 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth
in Journal of Physical Activity and HealthClick name to view affiliation
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Background:
Two years on from the inaugural Active Healthy Kids Australia (AHKA) Physical Activity Report Card, there has been little to no change with the majority of Australian children still insufficiently active.
Methods:
The 2016 AHKA Report Card was developed using the best available national- and state-based physical activity data, which were evaluated by the AHKA Research Working Group using predetermined weighting criteria and benchmarks to assign letter grades to the 12 Report Card indicators.
Results:
In comparison with 2014, Overall Physical Activity Levels was again assigned a D- with Organized Sport and Physical Activity Participation increasing to a B (was B-) and Active Transport declining to a C- (was C). The settings and sources of influence again performed well (A- to a C+), however Government Strategies and Investments saw a decline (C+ to a D). The traits associated with physical activity were also graded poorly (C- to a D).
Conclusions:
Australian youth are insufficiently active and engage in high levels of screen-based sedentary behaviors. While a range of support structures exist, Australia lacks an overarching National Physical Activity Plan that would unify the country and encourage the cultural shift needed to face the inactivity crisis head on.
Schranz and Olds are with the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia. Boyd, Ziviani, and Gomersall are with the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland. Evans is with the Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney. Hardy is with the Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Obesity Research Group, University of Sydney. Hesketh and Ridgers are with the School of Exercise & Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University. Lubans is with the Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Newcastle. Straker is with the School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University. Vella is with the School of Education, University of Wollongong. Tomkinson is with the Dept of Kinesiology & Public Health Education, University of North Dakota; and the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia. Schranz (natasha.schranz@mymail.unisa.edu.au) is corresponding author.
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