Taiwan’s regular exercise rate hits highest level since 2014

台灣居民規律運動比例達到2014年以來的最高水平

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s regular exercise participation rate reached 35.6% this year, the highest level since 2014, according to a nationwide survey released Monday by the Sports for All Agency.

The survey found that 83.3% of people in Taiwan engaged in some form of exercise, a 0.4% increase from last year, per CNA. The proportion of regular exercisers has risen for five consecutive years, the report said.

The survey defines regular exercise as physical activity performed at least three times a week, with each session lasting at least 30 minutes. The activity must reach an intensity that causes sweating and shortness of breath, or a heart rate of 130 beats per minute or higher.

This year, 49.5% reported exercising at an intensity that caused shortness of breath and sweating, up 5.8% from 2016 figures. By gender, 44.8% of women exercised at this intensity, an increase of 8.5%, while 54.4% of men reached this level, up 3% from 2016.

Men were more likely to participate in ball sports, at 22.9%, compared with 17.4% among women. Basketball and badminton were the most common activities.

Badminton saw significant growth, with participation rising 4.2% from 2016 to 9.4%. Hsu Chiung-yun (許瓊云), a professor at Taipei City University, said the increase was likely influenced by the international success of Taiwanese athletes in the sport.

Women showed higher participation in martial arts, stretching and dance at 22.4%, compared with 12.7% among men. Stretching exercises, Pilates and yoga were the most popular.

The survey also showed that indoor sports recorded the largest growth among exercise categories over the past decade, increasing by 5.8% compared with 2016. Deputy Sports Minister Cheng Shih-chung (鄭世忠) attributed the trend in part to the expansion of government-subsidized national sports centers across the country in recent years.

Participation at national sports centers and sports parks climbed to 16.9%, an increase of 9.1% compared with 2016. Attendance at private gyms also rose 1.5%.

Cheng noted that the rise in exercise intensity among women outpacing that of men is an “encouraging development,” according to CNA. He added that the ministry hopes the regular exercise rate will continue to increase.

The survey, conducted between June and August, targeted residents aged 13 and older nationwide via landline interviews. Researchers collected 25,472 valid responses at a 95% confidence level.