In 2024, we launched the Inequalities Metric, to tackle inequalities in sport and physical activity participation.
This innovative approach recognises the intersectionality of individuals' characteristics and aims to create a comprehensive measure of inequalities. Our goal is to ensure that everyone can benefit from sports and physical activities.
Key insights from the Inequalities Metric
The Inequalities Metric has unveiled significant insights:
For adults:
- 55% of the adult population has at least one inequality factor.
- 72% of adults with no inequality factors meet the activity guidelines, compared to 40% for those with two or more factors.
For children and young people:
- 61% hold one or more inequality factors.
- 48% of those with no inequality factors meet activity guidelines, compared to 40% for those with two or more factors.
The impact of equality in action
The most important indicator of lower levels of physical activity is where a person has two or more characteristics associated with being less active.
If we could close the inequality gap between those with no characteristics and those with two or more, the proportion of the adult population who are active would rise by 10% and the proportion of children meeting the Chief Medical Officers' guidelines would increase by 4%.
If everyone with one or more characteristics of inequality could be as active as those with none — there would be 4.6 million more active adults and 166,000 more active children and young people.
Key characteristics
Understanding which characteristics influence activity levels is crucial. The Inequalities Metric identifies which characteristics have the most impact on minutes of activity.
For adults these are:
- Disabled people and those with a long-term health condition
- Age 65 or over
- Lower socioeconomic groups (NSSEC6-8)
- Asian people
- Pregnant women and parents of children under one year
For children and young people these are:
- Girls
- Other gender for those secondary-aged
- Low affluence
- Disabled people and those with a long-term health condition
- Asian people
- Black people