Men take time from female partners for exercise, Australian study finds

Australian men are more likely to take time from their female partners for exercise, which women are not afforded equally in return, research suggests.

The study used data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey, drawing on information from 7,000 households made up of heterosexual couples aged 25 to 64.

The research, published in the Journal of Health and Social Behaviour, analysed the relationship between paid and family work time and physical activity.

Women were less physically active than men: 28.6% of women reported doing three moderate or intensive physical activities for at least 30 minutes a week, compared to 34% of men.

Heterosexual men were likely to increase their physical activity when the working hours of their partners were more flexible, the research also found.

Men reported more total paid and family work commitments a week, while women reported longer family work hours and less control over their work time.