Women more likely to exercise than men, says CSO

Women are more likely than men to participate in sport and exercise, with 64.4 per cent of women surveyed claiming to be active participants compared with 61.3 per cent of men, according to figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

Dublin was the only region where men claimed a higher participation rate than women, with 68.5 per cent of men taking exercise compared with 63.7 per cent of women. Adults living in the Border region are less likely to partake in physical exercise or sport than those living in any other part of the country, according to the statistics for the third quarter of 2006.

Workers are more involved in sport and exercise than the unemployed. Just over two-thirds of all employed people (66.6 per cent) take exercise or play sport, compared to 55.9 per cent of the unemployed. Those working in the home have slightly lower rates of participation at 54 per cent, with retired people the least likely to be involved in sports or exercise at 50.6 per cent.

Students are the most active with more than three-quarters (77.5 per cent) involved in physical activity.

The level of education attained also has a bearing on whether or not people are physically active, regardless of age.

Those with a third-level degree or higher were the most active, with 80.2 per cent involved in sport and exercise, almost double the proportion of people who had only attended primary school. Those who had attended a third-level institution, but not to degree level, were also sporty, with 74.4 per cent maintaining a sports or exercise routine.

Those with a complete secondary school education had a participation rate of 67.1 per cent, while those who left school after the junior cycle had a 60.7 per cent participation rate.

The most active people live in the mideast region, with 66.5 per cent of those involved in sport or exercise. Dubliners are similarly active with 66.1 per cent involvement. Activity rates are slightly lower in the midwest region at 62.5 per cent. Those living in the southwest and southeast have very similar rates of exercise at 61.9 per cent and 61.7 per cent respectively.