Women, people with low self-efficacy, reluctant exercisers, high academic achievers, and those at a socioeconomic disadvantage are all most likely to struggle to establish long-term exercise habits, research suggests.
The study looked at data from the Longitudinal Survey of Australian Youth (LSAY) to examine exercise patterns during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood.
Developing these exercise habits have been shown to benefit physical and mental health later in life, and the best time to do so is around the age of 15. Therefore, outreach is needed to encourage the groups most at risk from an early stage.
Associate Professor Oliver Schubert said: ‘State governments and local councils need to ask whether the current leisure infrastructure supports the needs of young people. Funding and support for grass-roots community sport across gender and socioeconomic groups is critical.’
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