About 40% of women in their 30s and early 40s do not exercise at all, according to a Japan Sports Agency survey conducted in 2023, reflecting the fact that women of that age tend to be busy with child rearing or work.

Only about 30% of women in their 30s and around 30% to 40% of those in their 40s said they exercised at least once a week, results of the survey released Sunday show.

The agency said the lack of exercise has likely caused their athletic ability to decline across the board in physical activities ranging from shuttle runs 〞 which measure speed and cardiorespiratory fitness 〞 to bending forward in a seated position, which measures flexibility.

In contrast, around 60% of men in their 20s said they exercised at least once a week and about 50% of those in their 30s and 40s said they did the same. Around 20% to 25% of men in their 30s and 40s said they didn＊t exercise, according to the survey.

The survey 〞 conducted annually since 1964 〞 collected data for its 2023 report between May and October last year. It gathered data from over 59,000 people age 6 to 79 to assess the nation＊s current state of physical fitness and athletic abilities.

Over the past 10 years, the athletic performance of women in their 40s showed a decline in the total score as well as in individual categories.

※We will advance initiatives to encourage exercise and sports activities, with a particular focus on working and child-rearing generations,§ the sports agency said.

The agency＊s report outlines future initiatives aimed at harnessing an increased enthusiasm for sports generated by the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It will focus on creating opportunities and raising awareness for participation in sports, especially given the decline in the physical fitness of individuals age 20 to 59, particularly women in their 30s and 40s, the report said.

Other efforts to encourage physical activity and sports participation will be made through collaboration with businesses, sports organizations and local governments, with an emphasis on working adults and parents.

Additionally, the report highlights the importance of collaborating with relevant government ministries and agencies to promote public health, extend healthy life expectancy and prevent the need for elderly care through sports.