Note regarding errata in Table 2A in the Health
Survey for England - 2008 publication
Author: Health and Social Care Information Centre, Lifestyle Statistics
Responsible Statistician: Paul Eastwood, Lifestyles Section Head
Version: 1
Original date of publication: 17th December 2009
Date of errata: 19th June 2013
The method used to calculate activity levels in the Health Survey for England was revised in 2008. In
2008, an enhanced physical activity questionnaire was introduced for adults, with additional
questions relating to occupational activity, sedentary activity, and follow-up questions for certain
activities. The reference period for bouts of activities to report was lowered from 15 minutes to 10
minutes. The revised method uses the enhanced data. Full details of the revised methods are
outlined in the 2008 report, Chapter 2, at www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/hse08physicalactivity.
Table 2A in the Health Survey for England – 2008 presents figures based on a mixture of original and
revised methods. The numbers quoted are based on the original method of calculating activity levels,
while the percentages quoted are based on the revised method. Both should have been based on the
revised method.
The correct figures based on the revised method are presented in the table below, with the original
(incorrect figures) in brackets.
Activity level
2008
Estimated Number
Target
Prevalence
of adults in England
for 2012
in HSE
in 2008
Meets recommendations (at
least 30 mins MVPA at least
five times per week)
34%
13,996,000 (14,961,000)
14,196,000 (15,161,000)
Low activity (30 mins MVPA
less than once per week)
34%
13,950,000 (13,669,000)
12,950,000 (12,669,000)
NatCen Social Research and the Health and Social Care Information Centre apologise for any
inconvenience this may have caused.