Australian men who smoke, drink and live out of the city are fitter than women and exercise more than their clean-living mates, a national study has found.
Men do about twice the amount of high impact exercise as women at nearly every stage in life, according to the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey of 17,000 people.
Men aged 15 to 24 reported doing an average 231 minutes a week of vigorous exercise compared to 124minutes for women. Men aged over 75 still averaged 55 minutes of high intensity exercise a week, compared to just 27 minutes for women, who also walked less.
The HILDA Survey – now in its 13th year – found women's exercise levels tended to drop off during child-rearing years, a pattern not shared by men who exercised consistently until their mid-70s.
Survey economist Roger Wilkins warned that because an activity must be sustained for 10minutes to be included in the survey, some people could chase after children all day but if the activity type changes every five minutes it isn't counted.
Professor Wilkins also speculated men may be more likely to exaggerate how active they are and the survey was reliant on self reporting. "I guess we all want to come across as fit and active and perhaps that's more important for men than women," he said.
People living in non-urban, or country, areas were found to have higher activity levels than those living in the city and labourers were more active than people who worked in administration.
While partnered women with children exercised less than their single, childless friends, the survey showed men's exercise patterns were not impacted by their marital status or whether they had kids.
Baffling researchers, male smokers were found to do an extra 400MET (metabolic equivalent) minutes of exercise per week, which means they're about 10 per cent more active than their non-smoking counterparts.
Professor Wilkins said this wasn't because smokers were younger as age had been controlled out of the study. "Understanding that phenomenon is kind of beyond me," he said.
Drinkers were found to exercise as much or more than their sober friends. Both men and women who consume 43 or more drinks per week do not have significantly different activities levels to those who drink less than 10. But men who drink 15 to 42 drinks a week exercise more than the teetotallers.
Aged in his mid-60s, Syd Fridman exercises almost every day, a routine he has kept for more than two decades. He's also a smoker and a drinker.
"I used to have a personal trainer but even without that I have continued to go to the gym five days a week," he said. "I can be there from anywhere between one and two hours each day."
He was not surprised by the HILDA finding that smokers were more active.
"I can understand that, I suppose older men are just trying to keep the candle of youth burning," he said. "In saying that it is no secret why people chose not to smoke or drink and exercise regularly, they want to live longer."
Australians on exercise
Which sex is working out the most?Men do roughly twice the amount of high impact exercise as women at almost every stage of life. Men aged 15 to 24 spent an average 231 minutes a week doing vigorous exercise compared to 124 minutes for women. Older men (over 75) still do an average 55 minutes of high intensity exercise a week, compared to just 27 minutes for women.
But who does more walking?Men also walk more minutes per week than women at all ages, with the differences most pronounced in youth and then again in late middle age. Young men (15 to 24 years) walk an extra 40 minutes each week than their young female friends at 313 minutes. Although the difference narrows through their 30s and 40s, men aged 65 – 74 are walking about 44 minutes more (238 minutes) each week than the women (194 minutes)
So, what's getting in the way for women then?Women's exercise levels drop off during child-rearing years. Unlike men who exercise consistently until about 75, women's exercise levels peak in their mid-late 20s, then drop off at 34 years and remain down until they're about 55 year old. From 25 to 34 women do an average 2363 MET minutes of exercise per week, which drops to 2068 from 35-44.
Survey economist Roger Wilkins warned that because an activity has to be sustained for ten minutes to be included in the survey, some people may be chasing after children all day long but changing what they're doing every three minutes, which won't show up in the results. Professor Wilkins also speculated men may be more likely to exaggerate how active they are.
Does where you live affect how much you exercise?Yes, people in non-urban, or country, areas have higher activity levels than people in the city.
Does being married affect your exercise regime?Not if you're a man but yes, significantly, if you're a woman. Women with a partner and children exercise less than their single, childless friends but men exercise the same regardless of whether they have kids.
Which men exercise the most?Smokers and men who are less educated have higher activity levels than non-smokers and those who are university qualified. Smoking and education have no impact on how a woman exercises.
Is work hard, play hard a real thing?Drinkers exercise as much or more than their sober friends. Both men and women who consume 43 or more drinks per week do not have significantly different activities levels to those who drink less than 10, But men who drink 15 to 42 drinks a week exercise more than the teetotallers. Women who drink 29 to 42 drinks a week exercise less.
Does what type of job you have play a role?Yes. Clerical and administrative workers have the lowest activity levels, and labourers have the highest (1592 MET-minutes per week).
Does having a disability stop you exercising?It does if you're a woman. A moderate or severe disability is associated with less exercise for women but, surprisingly, for men there's no negative impact on how much they exercise.
What is a MET-minute?A MET or metabolic equivalent minute is defined at the amount of oxygen consumed in one minute while sitting at rest, e,g, for walking MET minutes are calculated by multiplying the time spent walking by 3.3.
What the stats say about children: Q&A
How old are we when we start having kids?Men, on average, are aged 30 to 34. Women are 25 to 29 when they have their first baby.
How old is too old to get pregnant?If a couple has never been pregnant, the chances of them having a baby start to drop when the woman turns 35.
Should we or shouldn't we have a baby?If you've been with your partner for more than four years and you're still sleeping through the night, your chances of having a baby together drop. For those who have been together between four and six years, there is a 9 per cent lower probability.
Should we get married first? Almost two-thirds of new parents were married immediately prior to the birth of their first child, and about one-fifth were in de facto relationships. Less than 9per cent of women were single when their first baby was born.
Who are we living with when the baby arrives?Most parents who were together when their first baby was born had been living together on average for five years.
To rent or buy?You're more likely to have a baby if you own your own home (almost 60 per cent of new parents lived in homeowner households, and about 40 per cent rented).
How do parents sleep post-kids?Young children reduce sleep of parents, with mothers affected three times more than fathers. Single parents with a child aged below two get one hour less sleep a night than partnered mothers.
Does more money mean better health for kids?Yes. Health levels are highest for children in households in the top income quintile and second-highest for children in the second-highest quintile.
Country versus city living?Children in non-urban areas have the highest reported health, and number of GP visits is highest for children living in major urban areas. Kids in the city are more likely to be admitted to hospital
