The FY2024 version of the “Survey on Physical Fitness and Athletic Ability,” conducted annually by the Japan Sports Agency, has been released.
https://www.mext.go.jp/sports/content/251007-spt_kensport01-000045282_1.pdf
This survey has been conducted since FY1998, and this marks the 27th edition.
It tracks the current status and changes in physical fitness and athletic ability among people across the country, from elementary school students to the elderly.
Key Analysis Points
In this release, data is analyzed from the following three perspectives.
1. Trends in physical fitness and athletic ability by age group
For each age group—9, 12, 15, 18, 35–39, 55–59, and 75–79 years old—the results of physical fitness tests are compared every five years to analyze long-term changes.
2. Relationship between physical fitness level and exercise habits
Physical fitness test results are classified into five levels (A to E), and current exercise and sports participation status is compared by evaluation.
(A to E represent a five-level evaluation of overall physical fitness and athletic ability, where A is interpreted as the highest and E as the lowest physical fitness level.)
3. Relationship between sports experience during school years and current physical fitness/exercise status
For individuals aged 20–39, the survey examines the relationship between experiences such as “whether they belonged to a sports club during school years” and their current physical fitness level and exercise habits.
Points of Interest
In line with health management, we have summarized the results for the working generation below.
Results for ages 35 to 39
The results for ages 35 to 39 show contrasting situations between men and women.
For men in this age group, the percentage with physical fitness and athletic ability above average (C evaluation or higher) has remained in the 60% range between FY1998 and FY2024,indicating no significant change in physical fitness levels,meaning it shows a flat trend.
On the other hand, for women, the percentage of C or higher has shown aclear downward trendfrom the high 60% range to the low 50% range,
and this signifies a situation wheredeterioration in physical fitnessis progressing, specifically with a decrease in the group with average physical fitness (B evaluation) and an increase in the group with lower physical fitness levels (D evaluation).
Results for ages 55 to 59
Next, the results for ages 55 to 59 show positive changes for both men and women.
For men and women in this age group, the percentage receiving a rating of C or higher has improved from the low 70% range to the low 80% range, which suggests that overall physical fitness is improving due to an increase in the proportion of those with high fitness levels (A and B ratings).
Results for ages 75 to 79
Finally, the results for those aged 75 to 79 recorded the most significant improvement in physical fitness among all age groups surveyed.
For both men and women, the percentage of C or higher ratings has improved significantly from the low 70% range to around 90%. This result strongly indicates that the physical fitness level of the elderly population as a whole has been remarkably raised over these 27 years, as the proportion of people receiving A or B ratings, which are near the highest level, has increased, while the proportion of those with low D ratings has clearly decreased.
Comparison between those with and without exercise experience during school years
It has been shown that those who had exercise experience during their school years have higher total scores on the current New Physical Fitness Test compared to those who did not, and that this difference in fitness levels is greater in younger age groups.
Furthermore, in the 20–39 age group, a strong correlation was confirmed, with the group that had exercise experience during school years having a 17.5 percentage point higher rate of participating in exercise or sports at least once a week compared to the group without such experience.
Discussion
Relationship between physical fitness and work performance
The decline in physical fitness is not just a health issue. It is a challenge directly linked to corporate productivity, such as delayed recovery from fatigue, decreased concentration, and increased risk of absenteeism. From this perspective as well, initiatives that organizationally support “maintaining physical fitness and promoting exercise” as part of health and productivity management are becoming increasingly important.
The “investment value” of exercise habits as shown by the data
In this survey, it was confirmed that the higher a person’s overall physical fitness rating, the higher the percentage of those who have a habit of exercising two to three times a week or more. (Sports participation rate is 78.8% for A, compared to 29.0% for E)
In other words, “people who exercise regularly are more likely to maintain high work performance.” This data supports the importance of not only individual effort but also companies “creating an environment where it is easy to exercise.”
Perspectives for utilizing health and productivity management
In promoting health and productivity management, the implications derived from this data are clear. Combining employee physical fitness measurements and exercise support with “health checkups and stress checks” leads to true health and productivity management. Introducing physical fitness tests and exercise programs at the workplace level can be called a “strategic investment” that leads directly to reduced medical costs, prevention of turnover, and improved productivity.
Click here for detailed data
Detailed analysis results by generation and gender are published on the official website of the Japan Sports Agency. 👉 FY2024 Results of the Physical Fitness and Athletic Ability Survey (Japan Sports Agency) Source/Inquiries
Health and Sports Division, Japan Sports Agency, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) TEL: 03-6734-3485 (Direct)
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