Health · Fitness & Nutrition · 10 hrs ago
Fitness and exercise rates fall among Japanese women in their 30s and 40s
A Japan Sports Agency survey found that physical fitness scores among women in their 30s and 40s have declined over about 25 years.
The survey covered about 60,000 people from May to October 2025.
Compared with 2001, scores in 2025 were 96.3 percent for women in their 30s and 93.6 percent for women in their 40s.
The share of women in their 30s who exercised at least once a week fell from around 40 percent to about 30 percent; for women in their 40s, it dropped from the high 40s to the low 40s.
Sports club membership among women in their 30s fell from around 30 percent to about 10 percent.
A survey expert said work, housework and child-rearing may leave some women short of time, while women living alone may not have enough income for club fees.
The survey is conducted annually to assess fitness and inform government policy.
A government survey found that physical fitness among Japanese women in their 30s and 40s declined over roughly 25 years through fiscal 2025.
Fitness scores, measured against fiscal 2001 as 100 percent, fell to 96.3 percent for women in their 30s and 93.6 percent for women in their 40s.
The share of women in their 30s who exercised at least once a week dropped from around 40 percent to about 30 percent.
Sports club membership among women in their 30s fell from around 30 percent in fiscal 2001 to about 10 percent.
Analysts cited time and financial constraints, including the demands of balancing work, housework and child-rearing, as possible barriers to exercise.
- Who
- Japanese women in their 30s and 40s.
- What
- A government survey found declines in physical fitness and exercise-related participation.
- When
- The decline was recorded over roughly 25 years through fiscal 2025. The survey was conducted from May to October last year.
- Where
- Japan.
- Why
- Analysts cited time and financial constraints, including the burden of work, housework and child-rearing, as possible barriers.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
No direct quotes in the coverage so far.
The government began conducting the physical fitness and athletic ability survey annually.
The current set of test items began being used, and the target age range expanded to 6 to 79.
The fiscal 2025 survey collected data from about 60,000 people.
The survey recorded lower fitness scores and exercise participation among women in their 30s and 40s compared with earlier years.
- Survey sample
- About 60,000 people
- Fitness score, women in their 30s
- 96.3 percent of the fiscal 2001 baseline by fiscal 2025
- Fitness score, women in their 40s
- 93.6 percent of the fiscal 2001 baseline by fiscal 2025
- Weekly exercise, women in their 30s
- Fell from around 40 percent to about 30 percent
- Sports club membership, women in their 30s
- Fell from around 30 percent in fiscal 2001 to about 10 percent
Sources
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