Physical activity

Physical activity background

Physical activity is defined as ‘any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure’. All movement, whether experienced during work, leisure or for transport to get to and from places, can be defined as physical activity. Moderate intensity physical activity includes activities such as brisk walking and cycling, while vigorous intensity physical activity includes playing football, dancing or swimming.

Why is physical activity important?

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities suggests that regular physical activity has been shown to improve an individual’s physical and mental health. This includes preventing and managing diseases and also a range of conditions such as hypertension, depression, and diabetes. Wider benefits include improved confidence and self-esteem. Increasing physical activity of individuals can also benefit the wider community in a range of ways including:

• Increasing productivity in the workplace
• Improving learning and attainment in schools
• Building stronger communities and increasing social cohesion
• Cost savings for the health and social care system
• Decreasing road congestion and air pollution through active travel such as cycling

More information can be found in the physical activity dashboard and in the resources section below.

What amount of physical activity should individuals be aiming for?

According to national guidelines, from the UK Chief Medical Officer (CMO), children aged 5 to 18 years should be aiming to do an average of at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity a day across the week. Children who do less than 30 minutes a day are defined as less active, while those that do between 30 and 59 minutes are fairly active. The guidelines include activities that develop movement skills, reduce inactivity and increase muscle and bone strength.

Adults between the ages of 19 and 64 should take part in at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity a week. Adults who do less than 30 minutes of moderate activity a week as defined as inactive, while those that do between 30 and 149 minutes are fairly active. The guidelines also include building strength, improving balance, and reducing inactivity.

There is separate guidance for children under 5 years, adults over 65, and people with disabilities.

It is better for people with long term conditions to be physically active. The Benefits outweigh the risks: consensus statement, from the British Medical Journal (BMJ), on the risks of physical activity for people living with long-term conditions states the benefits outweigh the risks. Regular physical activity, in combination with standard medical care, has an important role in the management and prevention of many long-term conditions. 

More information can be found in the physical activity dashboard and in the resources section below.

Southampton strategy

As of March 2022, Southampton has adopted the ‘We Can Be Active Strategy’ in line with Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The aim of this strategy is to ‘inspire and support active lifestyles so we can all be active in a way that suits us with success measured as ‘people who once struggled to be active feeling the positive benefits of increased activity’.

In order to achieve this, it is recognised that the following needs to be achieved:

• Positive early experiences for children and young people
• Opportunities that meet our needs, interests and are accessible and easy to find
• Places and travel routes where we all feel safe and are encouraged to be active
• Support to help us get started or keep moving when we feel that we can’t do it alone
• Bold leaders working together to create happier and healthier communities

The Physical Activity Alliance (PAA) is a partnership of a wide range of stakeholders who are committed to improving physical activity in Southampton. Members come from a variety of backgrounds to deliver an action plan informed by the We Can Be Active Strategy from Southampton City Council. Partners meet quarterly to share information and developments, network, and solve problems together. For more information on the Physical Activity Alliance, please contact publichealth@southampton.gov.uk

More information can be found in the physical activity dashboard and in the resources section below.

Children

Children in Southampton are currently the 2^nd most active among Southampton's 10 Office for National Statistics (ONS) comparators. In the 2022/23 Sports England Active Lives Survey, 53.1% of children and young people aged 5 to 16 years in Southampton were self-reported as being active. This is significantly better than the England average of 47.0%.

The What About YOUth study (2014/15) survey found that when looking specifically at Southampton 15 year olds, the percentage of individuals who were physically active for at least one hour per day for seven days a week was 12.5%, compared with 13.9% in England. It also found that 74.1% of 15 year olds in Southampton were reported to be sedentary for over 7 hours a day, compared with 70.1% for England.

All schools provide 5 to 16 year olds with a minimum of 2 hours weekly physical education, which can be counted towards the physical activity levels outlined by the CMO guidelines. If this was combined with using a more active form of travel such as walking and cycling, many pupils would be well on their way to reaching the recommended physical activity levels.

In the Active Lives Survey conducted by Sport England it was established that Active play (63%), team sports (58%) and active travel (58%) are the most common activities done in the last week across all children and young people nationally. Team sports were much more popular in children aged 7+. Activity levels across England are now back in line with those seen pre-pandemic (2018 to 19) with a 2.6% increase in children who are active and a 2.3% decrease of those children inactive.

More information can be found in the physical activity dashboard and in the resources section below.

Adults

In the 2022/23 Sports England Active Lives Survey 66.9% of adults aged 19 and over, in Southampton, were considered active. This is statistically similar to the England average of 67.1% but is still the third lowest within Southampton’s ONS comparators. The trend since 2019/20 is slowly increasing, following the COVID-19 pandemic. Although it is unclear what the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on activity levels is. In England, the proportion of adults considered active has remained similar over the last five years. 

In Southampton, 95% of the city have access to green space, of at least 2 hectares (just under the size of five football pitches), within 5 minutes walking time, whilst the whole city can access an area of greenspace, with a minimum size of 100 hectares, within a 5km drive. Southampton Common is the nearest area of greenspace, for two-thirds of Southampton’s population and provides access to organised events such as a weekly Parkrun, a children’s play area and cycle paths.

In Southampton, there are 55 parks and 11 Green Flag awards for 5 Central Parks (as a collective award), St James' Park, Portswood Rec, Riverside Park, Freemantle Lake Park, Town Quay Park, Mayfield Park and Peartree Green. In 2024 Mansel Park, Millers Pond and Cedar Lodge Park also gained green flags. There are over 200 green spaces covering over 950 hectares (20% of Southampton land) including parks, gardens, recreation grounds, natural habitats, ecology areas "managed for wildlife". Southampton City Council also maintain over 100 play areas, 24 multi use games areas, 6 Skateparks and 7 Tennis courts, Southampton Municipal Golf Course and a mini-golf course.

More information can be found in the physical activity dashboard and in the resources section below.

Active travel

One possible way for adults to meet physical activity guidelines is to incorporate walking or cycling as a means of travel into their day. In the 2019/20 Active Lives Adult Survey from Sport England, 22.4% of people aged 16+, walked for travel at least three days a week. Compared to the national average of 15.1%.

In the same survey 1.9% of respondents aged 16+, cycled for travel at least three days a week. Compared with the England average of 2.3%. Cycling Southampton 2017-2027 sets out Southampton City Council’s approach to investing in and realising the vision for cycling between 2017 and 2027. To make cycling treated as a normal form of transport and create a liveable and thriving city. It outlines what work has already been undertaken, develops a policy approach for cycling, and sets out a delivery plan of proposed improvements to the cycle network and initiatives to realise the vision for cycling in Southampton.

More information can be found in the resources section below.

Recreational water

Open water describes natural bodies of water such as lakes, canals, rivers and seas and these are commonly used for recreational activity (swimming or bathing, water sports, kayaking and sailing). Recreational use of open water is becoming more popular around the world, with increasing interest in open water or ‘wild’ swimming. There is growing evidence of the benefits of engaging with natural aquatic environments including enhanced mental well-being and increased opportunities for physical activity and social interactions. Open water environments are not sterile and may contain pathogenic microorganisms. These are naturally present in the water or introduced by different sources of pollution from example from humans, animals and or wildlife, sewage overflows and industrial activities; because of this, open water recreational use can carry risks to users becoming ill after contact.

Water quality

Most recreational waters in England are routinely monitored through standard microbial water quality measurements by the Environment Agency, these are classified as ‘designated bathing waters’. There are more than 400 designated bathing waters, with 72% meeting the ‘excellent threshold for water quality’, but this does not mean these waters are risk-free.

What are the illness and infection risks?

• Gastrointestinal illness is the most commonly reported recreational water-related illness, with common symptoms including nausea, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting, dizziness and fever.
• Respiratory illnesses - cold or flu-like symptoms such as coughing, sore throat, fever and shortness of breath
• Ear, eye and skin infections - eye infections such as 'pink eye' or skin infections such as red spots, bumps and rashes

Evidence review and research findings

A rapid evidence review was carried out to investigate evidence of adverse health outcomes linked to recreational water exposure, specifically focusing on swimmers/bathers of open water (immersive contact) and infectious disease outcomes ( the infectious focused only explored microbiological hazards and risks). The results synthesised the evidence from 10 European epidemiological studies conducted on different types of recreational waters, since 2000, including one study conducted in London, England.

Evidence found that cases of gastrointestinal and respiratory illness were more frequent among bathers when compared to non-bathers. However, studies highlighted that the risk of illness is also influenced by other factors including swallowing water, immersive contact, duration of water exposure, user susceptibility (particularly children and individuals with weakened immune systems) and the water quality, notably after heavy rainfall (a predictive indicator of faecal contamination and reduced water quality).

Recommendations on keeping safe

• Check the bathing water quality of the site before use from DEFRAs Swimfo:find a bathing water
• Be aware of weather conditions, particularly heavy rainfall as the quality of the water may be reduced
• Refrain from contact with open water if experiencing symptoms of gastrointestinal or respiratory illness to avoid transmission to other users
• Try to avoid swallowing water whilst swimming
• Observe local safety advice
• After exposure to open water wash hands or use antibacterial hand sanitiser and shower as soon as possible
• Remove wet swimwear or wetsuits immediately when possible after exposure
• If becoming seriously ill after open water exposure, seek medical attention from a GP