Physical Activity DHB Toolkit

Date of publication: June 2003

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Summary

Key points

• One-third of New Zealand adults are not physically active at levels sufficient to benefit their health. A physically active New Zealand population will benefit overall health.
• Physical inactivity is second to smoking as a modifiable risk factor for poor health. It is associated with 8 percent of all deaths and accounts for over 2000 deaths per year.
• Thirty minutes of physical activity of moderate intensity on most, if not all, days of the week can benefit health. Once active, people must be encouraged to remain active.
• Adequate levels of physical activity can reduce the risk of premature death and poor health across a number of serious diseases and conditions.
• Priority groups include:
  • inactive people
  • older people
  • children and adolescents
  • women with children and pregnant women
  • those at risk of or suffering from specific non-communicable diseases and conditions.
• As tangata whenua, Māori require special attention under the Treaty of Waitangi. Māori generally already have high levels of physical activity. Physical activity provides a unique opportunity to advance Māori interests and to address other poor indicators of health status among Māori.
• Reducing inequalities is a key approach, targeting Māori, Pacific peoples, people with disabilities, other ethnic groups and lower socioeconomic status groups.
• District Health Boards can provide and support a range of physical activity promotions along with nutrition programmes by working collaboratively across sectors and with key organisations.
• More emphasis needs to be placed on encouraging non-recreational (ie, transport and incidental activity) physical activity.
• Schools, workplaces, communities and health care facilities are key locations in which to promote physical activity.
• Healthy Eating - Healthy Action is the Ministry's nutrition, physical activity and healthy weight strategy. The five priority areas identified in this strategy are environments, children, lower socioeconomic groups, workforce and communication.

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Publication availability

The publication is available in Word and PDF format below:

Physical Activity Toolkit (Word, 706 KB)
Physical Activity Toolkit (PDF, 393 KB)


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Publishing information

Date of publication: June 2003

ISBN 0-478-25665-5 (Website)

HP 3651

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Related information

Physical Activity
Healthy Eating Healthy Action