WRIST-WORN devices are providing new insights into how active Australians are and how well they sleep, with new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reinforcing the critical role of prevention in tackling chronic disease.
The findings, based on wearable devices, show adults averaged four minutes of vigorous activity and one-hour and 45 minutes of moderate activity each day in 2023.
Adults are also nearly 12 hours inactive outside of sleep.
ABS head of health statistics Matthew Montgomery said, “This is the first ABS report on Australians’ physical activity and sleep using wrist-worn devices that record movement.
“It showed that adults did four minutes a day of vigorous physical activity and one hour and 45 minutes of moderate physical activity on average in 2023.”
While the data is national, it aligns closely with local health challenges identified in the Port Macquarie-Hastings region, where prevention has been flagged as a key priority.
A 2025 Health Needs Assessment, found high rates of lifestyle-related risk factors contributing to chronic disease.
Local data shows 79 percent of adults are not meeting recommended physical activity guidelines, while 57 percent have inadequate fruit intake.
Obesity rates sit at 33 percent, with a further 34 percent overweight, and 27 percent of adults report risky alcohol consumption, all pointing to preventable drivers of poor health.
More than one in five people in the region are living with two or more chronic conditions, most commonly anxiety and osteoarthritis.
Australia’s 24-hour movement guidelines from the Department of Health, Ageing and Disability, recommend adults aim for 150 to 300 minutes of moderate activity each week.
The guidelines also recommend adults limit sedentary behaviour and get between seven and nine hours of sleep per night.
Health information identifies the gap between current behaviour and recommended guidelines, presenting an opportunity for prevention through increased physical activity, improved diet and better sleep.
The report highlights strong community interest in preventative health, including exercise programs, health screening services and community education initiatives.
The report identified an opportunity to strengthen preventative health programs and improve education in partnership with Local Health Districts and community organisations.
For the Mid North Coast the report noted that early intervention is said to reduce chronic disease.
By Sis HIGGINS
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