Trafford people are leading more active lifestyles than at any time in the past decade, stepping out for health and wellbeing.
Latest figures from the annual Sport England Active Lives Survey reveal 68% of residents report taking regular exercise compared with 60% in 2016 and only 19% - an all-time low – are classed as inactive.
The top way to be active in the borough is to walk with 28% saying they often step out for leisure and 19% to travel between places, compared with 20% playing sport, 16% undertaking fitness activities, 10% gardening and 5% cycling.Being active is
defined as taking moderate exercise for at least two and a half hours each week. Being inactive is categorised as doing less than 30 minutes. Two thirds of exercise takes place outdoors around local parks and streets and in people’s own gardens.
The good news for Trafford residents’ health reflects initiatives to help people lead active lifestyles set out in the Trafford Moving Strategy and extensive improvements to footpaths and cycleways in the borough under the Council’s Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Strategy.
However, work to address health inequalities continues as statistics show the area’s least wealthy households are twice as likely to be inactive. Women and Black and Asian communities also experience higher levels of inactivity.
In addition, 53% of children and young people are not active enough, meaning 20,000 under 18s in Trafford are not meeting recommended activity levels.
Figures were presented and discussed at the third Trafford Moving Conference recently at University Academy 92 with delegates – people who work in sport and leisure in the borough – invited to focus on encouraging more activity among local people.
Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Leisure, Arts, Culture and Heritage, Cllr Eve Parker, said:
“Sport England presents some good news in these latest figures but also some serious food for thought. We want as many people as possible to be active, for good physical and mental health and wellbeing and also to travel actively, reducing carbon and improving air quality.
“It’s no surprise that walking is many people’s first choice when taking exercise and Trafford has plenty of inviting spots for striding out, in the countryside and around the streets and parks.
“We work hard with our partners at Trafford Leisure to provide great facilities for all kinds of sports and activities at our leisure centres including swimming pools and fitness studios, sports courts, football pitches, BMX tracks and more! We are constantly improving these and adding new places.”
Cllr Tom Ross, Leader of Trafford Council, added:
“Our Council priorities include facilitating healthy and independent lives, offering the best start in life to our children and young people, and addressing climate change – and encouraging active lifestyles is key to all of these.
“It’s great that there is a definite trend towards more people moving more often but we recognise there is lots of scope for improvement and future development along these lines.”