Women less physically active than men

Researchers from the UK studied school children and people aged over 70 and found that, in both groups, women were less active than men.

Boys are 6% more active than girls of the same age. And they also found that girls and boys play differently. Girls form small groups that concentrate on conversation and socialising, while boys form larger groups that lend themselves to games such as soccer that are physically demanding.

A second study, concentrating on people over the age of 70 found that overall physical activity was low in both genders, but that women were even less active than men. The study found that more than 70% of people who took part walked for fewer than 5000 steps per day.

The bottom line, however, is that all age groups need to do more physical activities and that physical activity needs to continue to be promoted as a way of preventing chronic diseases of lifestyle such as diabetes and heart disease.