More than half of the Dutch people exercise too little | NOW

More than half of the Dutch (53 percent) exercised too little last year, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) concluded in collaboration with the health institute RIVM. It is difficult to say to what extent this has to do with the coronavirus and the lockdowns.

According to the guidelines of the Health Council, adults should exercise at least 2.5 hours per week of moderate intensity, for example by walking, cycling or swimming. Children should exercise for at least an hour every day. Also, muscle and bone-strengthening activities, such as athletics, soccer, and dancing, are recommended for both adults and children.

Only 47 percent of Dutch people from the age of four met those guidelines last year (and 53 percent did not). Compared to previous years, the Dutch have generally stopped exercising much. However, more children aged four to twelve and people aged 75 or older have started to exercise sufficiently. Children up to the age of twelve played outside more often and walked to school more often. Older people also walked more often.

18 to 65-year-olds met the physical activity guidelines less well than in the period from 2018 to 2020. In particular, adults up to the age of 35 cycled less.

It is difficult to say to what extent this has to do with corona and the lockdowns in the Netherlands. In a health survey, people were asked about their behavior in a ‘normal’ week, but it probably looked very different during the corona time. People seemed to go for a walk more often, but on the other hand, gyms were often closed and it was often not allowed to exercise in groups.

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