Wealthy 'more likely to exercise'

[krisbarry]

MELBOURNE'S wealthy residents are more likely to don the joggers and hit the pavement while their poorer cousins shun exercise, a study shows.

The University of Melbourne study of more than 2300 people across the metropolitan area found 46 per cent people living in the city's poorest suburbs did the minimum of exercise to maintain good health.

Associate professor Anne Kavanagh said the per centage was higher in high socio-economic status areas such as Stonnington, Manningham and Bayside, where 60 per cent of residents exercised.

"We know that people on low incomes and those with low education levels are less likely to exercise, however, this is the first Australian study to show that locality seems to influence whether or not someone is physically active," Ms Kavanagh said.

People were asked whether they took part in a range of activities including walking, gardening, jogging, cycling and swimming.

Walking was the favoured form of exercise, with 80 per cent of people doing it between one and seven times a week.

The study also found residents in the lower socio-economic areas of Knox and Maroondah were less likely to jog.

"Basically the physical characteristics of where you live do matter," Prof Kavanagh said.

Source:

http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,17024672%5E1702,00.html

 

[krisbarry]

I would tend to agree with this article. I have lived in very wealthy areas of Adelaide and very poor areas too.

I noticed that in the wealthy areas the footpaths were always being used by walkers and runners, but somewhat less in the poorer areas.

Maybe it also has something to do with self esteeem too. More self esteem usually leads to higher paid jobs, and hence the ease to live in wealthy suburbs. Higher self esteem gives you more of a balanced lifestyle too.

On that note, time for me to eat my can of tuna (plenty of protien in that), then lift some weights. Summer is coming and I want to look good for the beach.

 

[Milk Man]

People won't walk/jog in poor suburbs because they get mugged. More likely they run, but only when someone is chasing them. The only ones jogging are wearing grey tracksuits and shadowboxing (with eye of the tiger in their walkman).

 

[kaveman]

It costs a lot of money to buy the right exercising clothes. you just cannot exercise without the designer joggers, everyone knows that

 

[It's Snake Pliskin]

It costs a lot of money to buy the right exercising clothes. you just cannot exercise without the designer joggers, everyone knows that

What about KT 26s?

 

[krisbarry]

A follow up article just released...

Poor 'not doing enough exercise'

25oct05
RICH people are more likely to jog than those on lower wages, new research has found.

A survey of Melbourne's suburbs revealed most people living in poorest areas are not doing enough exercise to maintain their health.

The University of Melbourne study draws on data collected from a VicHealth project, the Victorian Neighbourhood Lifestyle Environment Study.

It covered 20 local government areas in Melbourne.

In high socio-economic areas, 60 per cent of people surveyed had good exercise rates, compared with 46 per cent in low socio-economic areas and 54 per cent in middle areas.

Walking was the most common activity overall. About 80 per cent of people reported walking between one and seven times a week.

Jogging was also common among people with a high income. People living in the poorest areas were 30 per cent less likely to jog than those in the wealthiest suburbs.

Associate Professor Anne Kavanagh said the study showed exercise levels were influenced by where people lived.

"We know people on low incomes and those with low education levels are less likely to exercise," she said.

"However, this is the first Australian study to show, using a multi-level analysis of different factors, that locality seems to influence whether or not someone is physically active."

Wealthy areas surveyed included Stonnington, Manningham and Bayside. Middle areas included Monash, Yarra and Glen Eira. Poorer areas included Darebin, Dandenong and Moreland.

Exercise levels were assessed using the Active Australia Survey. Respondents who said they spent less than two-and-a-half hours a week exercising were considered insufficiently active.

Exercise included walking, vigorous garden and yard work, and other activities.

Source:
http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,17028137%5E1702,00.html

 

[Kauri]

The "less well off " tend to be employed in manual/physical type work whereas the "better off " tend to be employed in more sedentary type work ( only a generalisation ). The last thing on my mind after a day working physically would be exercise, whereas I can understand the "Little Johnys " of the work force need to go walking every day.

 

[ice]

"What about KT 26s? "

Indeed.

Many years ago when I used to run 10k's every night( mostly on asphalt) I always bought the best shoes I could find, regardless of cost.

Now older and slower, I confine myself to walking, and for that the KT26's are the best value shoe I've ever met.
Not just my opinion either as whenever the TV tonight shows do a "gee whiz" feature on running shoes the KT 26 usually fearures prominently.

Mind you they're not cheap any more. My last pair cost $36!

 

[krisbarry]

The "less well off " tend to be employed in manual/physical type work whereas the "better off " tend to be employed in more sedentary type work ( only a generalisation ). The last thing on my mind after a day working physically would be exercise, whereas I can understand the "Little Johnys " of the work force need to go walking every day.

Yes, very true...the well off, work in offices strapped to desks all day, then shell out thousands for gym memberships.

Whats the point of that!

I would much rather my job as there is no need for gym membership and I sweat my little arse off. Its a triple bonus if you think about it...Burning calories, losing weight, and getting paid all at the same time. What more could you ask for.

 

[happytrader]

In my experience wealthy people tend to look after their assets very well and that includes their health, kids, pets, associations, cars, houses etc.

Cheers
Happytrader

 

[Smurf1976]

It could be argued that many of the wealthier suburbs provide a more pleasant physical environment for exercise which may encourage residents to exercise more.

I don't live in a wealthy area, it's more in the middle, but I can think of nothing worse than wondering around the streets of a "nothing but houses, roads and cars" sprawling suburb.

Thankfully I live in an area with lots of natural bush to go walking in and that's exactly what I do most Sunday (and often Saturday too) afternoons. I'd go crazy trapped in a concrete jungle and probably wouldn't exercise a lot as a result.

Hopefully I'll get to do another all day (well, a few hours) walk soon. I just catch the bus to town (Hobart CBD) and walk home with 85% of the distance being either totally off-road or on back streets with basically no traffic.

 

[krisbarry]

In my experience wealthy people tend to look after their assets very well and that includes their health, kids, pets, associations, cars, houses etc.

Cheers
Happytrader

Couldn't agree more...At the moment I live in a very wealthy suburb, not by choice, it just happened that way..but have noticed exactly that.

Well looked after cars, houses, and families walking the streets and bike riding etc.

Far more active people.

It truely is amazing what money can do, maybe it just buys a little more freedom to be able to exericise too.

But there is also the type "a" postive go-getters that populate wealthy suburbs too, which breeds a certain mentality of balance and well being.

On the opposite end of the scale there are the areas populated with high welfare dependancy. They wait for their dole money to hit the bank account around 3am, then go crazy at the supermarkets buying junk food, and the good old old carton of ciggies...then wait for the liquor stores to open and buy a slab or two of beer etc. Then sit in front of the TV all day watching daytime crap, and binge eating and drinking....oh what a pretty sight...LOL

I have seen both sides and I much prefer the wealthy side of town anyday, hence the reason why I try and better myself, by being active, saving hard, and taking a few risks.

 

[Mofra]

Perhaps the link of wealth and exercise could be due to a correlation between the self-motivated people who want to improve EVERY aspect of their life and those willing to accept mediocrity

 

[amohonour]

When i was younger i used to run on a garbage truck loved the job by the way kept really fit we used to use KT26's all the time they were fine but must say some years later got some asics and probably the best shoe ive run in. Love them.

 

[mime]

Healthy body, healthy mind?

 

[amohonour]

Its acatch 22 the less you do the less energy you have so the less you do. The more you excercise the more energy you have so the more you can do and this leads to a positive attitude. excercise is great

 

[Smurf1976]

Its acatch 22 the less you do the less energy you have so the less you do. The more you excercise the more energy you have so the more you can do and this leads to a positive attitude. excercise is great

Is this a scientifically valid fact?

Not disagreeing with you, just curious since I've always been fairly active so don't really know what happens when you're not.

 

[amohonour]

Based on my life time experiments lol No it is quite common knowledge that excercise gets the body back into sync with itself. Muscle build up actually burns more cals and the more you tone up your body it increases your metabolic rate which in turn gives you more energy. A lot also to do with attitude when you are inactive and lazy you can get into a rut of mind where everything is tooo hard. I know myself when i am running 30 km plus a week i have far more energy than when i am unable to keep up training. Bit like a fire if your furnace inside is smoldering and you constantly dump heaps on top of it it struggles but if it is burning well (muscle tone chewing up fuel) then your body produces more energy.

 

[Porper]

I know myself when i am running 30 km plus a week i have far more energy than when i am unable to keep up training. .

Not going to disagree with you on the principle Amohonour but if I tried to run 30km a week I can assure you I would not have more energy :sleeping:

Most unfit or fat people I meet are not happy, they may put on this "I am fat but bubbly" attitude, in reality I know through friends this not to be the case.Before anybody has a swipe saying I am being prejudiced, I am not, just a realist.

Exercise makes you feel happier and that gives you the zest for life.

 

[Julia]

Is this a scientifically valid fact?

Not disagreeing with you, just curious since I've always been fairly active so don't really know what happens when you're not.

Smurf:

Yes, it is a scientifically proven fact. A number of scientifically valid studies have been done which have demonstrated this point.

Possibly a less well known fact, similarly demonstrated in multiple studies, is that exercise can confer greater benefits as an anti depressant than anti depressant medication. The basis for this is the body's natural production of endorphins (naturally occurring opiate like substance) which produces a sense of well being. To achieve this, it was shown to be necessary to engage in not less than one hour's vigorous exercise per day (slowly ambling round the block in one's bedroom slippers doesn't cut it), and preferably more.

Some confusion can arise between these findings and the recommendation by the Heart Foundation that - to achieve cardiovascular health - all that is required is 20 - 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times per week. And this can be divided into three bursts of 10 minutes each.

This is simply insufficient to promote the discharge of endorphins into the bloodstream. Within reason, the more sustained and intense the exercise, the greater the following sense of wellbeing.

I discovered this on a subjective basis many years ago, long before I knew anything about the scientific basis for this feeling of wellbeing.


Porper: I offer you a challenge: I've no doubt that if you're not presently into exercising regularly, you would indeed feel somewhat tired if you ran 30km a week. But I promise you - unless you are seriously overweight or have some medical condition which precludes exercise - if you start by walking three or four km per day, gradually increasing your pace, and each week adding a couple of km, in six months from now you will easily be able to complete 30km per week, either walking or running, with no difficulty at all. All that's required is some good shoes, a positive attitude, and the commitment to give it a determined go.

How about it?

Julia