SYDNEY, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- A new survey has revealed on Thursday that most Aussies are not aware of the risks associated with a lack of exercise.
A study from the University of Queensland, having asked 615 adults about physical activity and their level of knowledge on the subject, found that 99.6 percent of respondents understood physical activity is good for health, 55.6 percent were incorrect about how much physical activity is required to maintain good health.
Up to 80 percent of people also failed to identify the probabilities of developing diseases associated with physical inactivity.
"Although most people know that physical activity is good for health, few people know the specific benefits of physical activity for health, and it may be this specific knowledge that positively influences their physical activity behaviour," author of the study, Stephanie Schoeppe, explained.
The survey also found that individuals who had more knowledge of the risks posed by a lack of physical activity were on average much more likely to exercise regularly.
The author believes that more could be done to raise awareness and inform people of the risks associated with inactivity.
