Most Logan kids not meeting exercise targets: study

Overall, just 38 per cent of children and children under 18 were active for at least an hour every day, the benchmark set by the Health Department.

The data was collected as part of the 2018 Active Logan Participation Study, which surveyed nearly 1000 Logan residents late last year.

The good news is that Logan kids are more active than those across the country, with just eight per cent of Australians aged 13 to 17 meeting activity recommendations according to a 2012 study.

According to the Health Department, exercise can reduce anti-social behaviour, improve confidence and help to manage anxiety and stress in children.

Logan's adults fared better, with about two thirds meeting recommendations to do at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week. This compared to 55 per cent across Australia.

Walking was the most common exercise for adults, followed by gym activities and swimming. Outside of school, swimming, football and soccer were popular with young people.

According to the study, top barriers for exercise included not knowing how to get involved, disability or injury and lack of accessible, safe and affordable facilities.

A Logan City Council spokesperson said the report's results and recommendations would inform investment, capital infrastructure, community initiatives and programs aimed at increasing Logan residents' levels of physical activity.

Among the top suggestions for the city were supporting cycling by building more bikeways, improving lighting and safe road crossings and providing more time-flexible options for organised activities.

Public areas like parks where people could exercise needed to be safer, with top hazards including traffic, unclean facilities and crime.

Information on physical activity options in Logan needed to be easily accessible, particularly online.

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