What is Physical Activity?
  • Definition: Any movement of the body produced by skeletal muscles, resulting in energy expenditure.

Overview of Key Topics
  • Physical activity and healthy lifestyles

  • Types of physical activity

  • Health benefits of physical activity

  • Sociocultural influences on physical activity

  • Prevalence and trends of physical activity, physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour

  • Physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines

  • Subjective and objective methods of assessing physical activity and sedentary behaviour

What is physical activity?
  • Any movement of the body produced by skeletal muscles, resulting in energy expenditure.

Types of Physical Activity
  • Play

    • Description: Activities engaged in for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose

    • Examples: Playground games, Monkey bars, Sandbox play

  • Games

    • Description: Activities that one engages in for amusement

    • Examples: Virtual reality games, Octopus tag and yard games

  • Sports

    • Description: Activities involving physical exertion and skill, in which the individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment

    • Examples: Australian Rules football, Basketball, Soccer, Tennis

  • Informal Sports

    • Description: Self-organised activities with adaptable rules and organisation

    • Examples: Street soccer, 3-on-3 basketball, Beach cricket, Spikeball at the beach

  • Transportation

    • Description: Travel between destinations that involves physical movement

    • Examples: Walking, Cycling, Running, Skateboarding

  • Exercise

    • Description: Activities requiring physical effort, carried out to sustain or improve health and fitness

    • Examples: Aerobics, Weightlifting, Running, Cycling

  • Chores

    • Description: Routine tasks, for example jobs done around the home

    • Examples: Gardening, Cleaning, Grocery shopping

  • Recreational activities

    • Description: Leisure activities

    • Examples: Fishing, Dancing, Sky-diving, Surfing