A whopping 58% of South Africans don't take part in any form of physical activity. We have, say the studies, become a lazy nation.
According to the 2008 Women24 Female Nation Survey, almost half of us don't exercise - not even a meagre walk around the block. We're also deluded enough to believe that, nevertheless, we're on top of things: only 11% of women aged 35 - 39 confess to not being healthy.
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Women24 editor-in-chief Sam Wilson said the results "provide some revealing insights into the lives and challenges of South African women".
Confirmation from State survey
These results mimic the outcome of a study by the Department of Sport and Recreation titled "Getting the nation to play". The findings from this study were just as dismal.
The study, conducted among 2 907 respondents aged 16 years and older, indicated that only 8% participate on a daily basis in physical activities. This included those who partake in low-key physical activities, such as going for a walk, or going to a gym.
The vast majority - a staggering 58% - never take part in any form of physical activity at all.
Statistics such as this have led Jaré Struwig (chief researcher in Socio-Economic Surveys in the Knowledge Systems unit) to conclude that "South Africa is a nation of laggards".
Is SA is too busy 'chilling' to exercise?
The survey also revealed that favourite leisure activity of the majority is listening to music, watching TV, DVDs or videos and socialising with friends. And they do this several times a week. Reading books, getting together with relatives, or shopping for pleasure, are also popular free time activities, ‘practised' several times a month.
According to the survey, physical activities, playing cards, attending sporting events, attending cultural events, handicrafts, spending time on the internet, or going to the movies are less popular and only carried out several times a year, or less.
Determining sport participation
According to the report, age, gender, race, income and place of residence all play a role. It showed that while younger people are more likely to participate in sport than older people, participation ratios are distressingly low: those in the age group of 18 - 34 are the most active, three times more likely to participate in sport than those aged 35 - 54, and six times more likely than those aged 55 and older.
This finding, which realistically took into account the fact that mobility is a very real factor preventing many older people from strenuous exercise (but at the same time should not prevent them from performing some less intensive form of exercise), shows that many still believe sport is for the young.
Other findings showed that:
Men are three time more likely to participate in sport than women. In this study, only 30% of all women participants indicated that they take part in a sport, compared to 55% of men.
Racial segregation still plays a dominant role in sport participation: white South Africans are three times more likely to participate in sport than coloured people, and twice as likely as African and Indian respondents. An alarming 72% of coloured respondents indicated that they never participate in any kind of physical activity.
Wealthy people participate in sport more often than those with lower incomes.
People in urban formal areas are also more likely to participate in sport than people in urban informal areas, tribal, and especially rural areas.
Access, money and lack of facilities a hurdle
Only seven kinds of sport recorded participation figures of more than 1%; and only 3% of the population walked for exercise (this was the only sporting/physical activity that was maintained beyond the age of 55).
It appears the majority of us do actually know that sport is good for us – it's just the motivation to get out and do it that appears to be lacking. Roughly nine out of ten respondents agreed that sport develops children's character; and just over 85% indicated that they thought that sport brings different groups and races in South Africa together, and has a role to play in creating a more racially integrated society.
Regardless, participation levels remain low and many cited a lack of facilities and a lack of money, particularly in urban informal, rural and tribal areas.
The researchers concluded that although this was indeed a problem needing attention, it might also prove a positive as if focus is moved to sports or exercise which requires less financial outlay and infrastructure, participation may actually grow.
"By focusing on the activity, rather than the facilities or lack thereof, possibilities for participation can be fostered at school level, which is a strong motivator for continued and integrated sport participation," said Struwig.
Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?
"I found this study very interesting," said Health24's FitnessDoc, Ross Tucker, "but I believe that if we want to change this, then the focus has to be on motivating the children and providing them with the motivation, encouragement and facilities they need."
The reason for this, he said, is that the groups of people who are now inactive adults, are those who were inactive as children and did not participate in any sports at school. This, he added, is not only the fault of the parents, but also the education system as PT is still not seen as a formal subject at school.
"The reason why the population is so inactive can be traced back to who did what at school, which is why it's vital for parents to invest in their kids and encourage them to participate in sports – but they should also actively engage with their children. If a child doesn't know how to play soccer, for example, they won't join the soccer team at school. But if their parents play soccer with them at the weekends, they will gain confidence and therefore be more likely to play in a structured environment such as at school," he said.
Sources: Ross Tucker (Health24's FitnessDoc); 2008 Women24.com Female Nation Survey; Human Sciences Research Council, Department of Sport and Recreation,
(Amy Henderson, Health24.com, August 2008)
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I have long felt that in the years to come, the sportsman will be the new " gods" of the world. With a recent study projecting adult obesity at 86% in the USA in 2030, we all need to consciously work on maintaining our health. Whilst it isn' t necessary to kill yourself training, working up a sweat will not kill you - in fact, it can only do you the world of good. So SA, get off your lazy backsides and get moving! - Justin
We can do it!
2008/08/08 11:53:03 AM
I firmly agree Justin - just a walk around the block once a day is enough to get started! Come on SA!!!! You can do it!!! - JoJo
laziness
2008/08/11 03:59:22 PM
SA has been declared as the laziness country, their commitment to sports its a nightmare as compared to ther couuntry. Being active doent mean to go to gym or be a walker, by playing with kids, wash the car, dancing can benefit you in different way, we can do it, lets keep the spirit of exercise working for us and other. - thatano
we are a lazy bunch
2008/08/16 11:56:45 AM
the world is becoming more and more lazy.people are giving priority to just chilling over activities that encourage people to be inactive and hence lazy.peoople do not engage in the active kind of chilling. what happened to chilling over soccer. we need to chill over activities that push people to be active. - kiki
2008/10/09 10:12:37 AM
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Encouragement is needed
2008/10/19 10:32:18 PM
I agree in the statement in the article that says the parents of the children need to encourage their children to participate in sport, the problem tho iv found is the fact that adults work so much that they hardly have a chance to fully be proactive in encouraging their child to do sports and on the weekends parents want to just relax as it is the only time they have for themselves really. - Mike
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