The Fitness Map of London: A Borough Analysis
In this blog post, we'll take a look at the activity levels of the populations in the boroughs of London. Using statistical data, we'll explore how physical activity varies across different areas of the city, and what factors may be contributing to these differences. By analyzing this data, we can gain a better understanding of the health and wellness of Londoners, and identify potential opportunities for improving physical activity levels across the city.
Below is a list of the boroughs of London along with data on:
Population, according to the Office for National Statistics (2022).
Median age, according to the Office for National Statistics (2021).
Percentage of adults (aged 18 plus) classified as overweight or obese, according to the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (2021).
The levels of sufficient physical activity (at least 150 minutes per week) among adults, according to Sport England (2020-2021).
Median weekly earnings, according to the Office for National Statistics (2021).
Note, the ‘median’ is the middle value in a dataset when arranged in ascending or descending order. It represents the point below and above which 50% of the values fall.
| Borough | Population | Median Age | Overweight (%) | Sufficiently Active (%) | Median Weekly Earnings (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barking & Dagenham | 218534 | 33 | 70.5% | 50.3% | £523.5 |
| Barnet | 388639 | 37 | 57.5% | 62.6% | £574.9 |
| Bexley | 246543 | 39 | 62.0% | 54.5% | £584.8 |
| Brent | 338918 | 35 | 58.8% | 54.1% | £553.1 |
| Bromley | 329830 | 41 | 60.8% | 67.2% | £653.0 |
| Camden | 210390 | 34 | 50.1% | 68.8% | £694.2 |
| City of London | 8618 | 37 | No data | 47.8% | £1138.00 |
| Croydon | 390506 | 37 | 62.6% | 57.7% | £613.3 |
| Ealing | 366127 | 36 | 57.6% | 58.8% | £574.9 |
| Enfield | 329601 | 37 | 59.7% | 58.7% | £507.9 |
| Greenwich | 289254 | 35 | 60.4% | 65.5% | £618.9 |
| Hackney | 259956 | 32 | 46.9% | 68.4% | £575.1 |
| Hammersmith & Fulham | 183295 | 34 | 49.7% | 73.4% | £714.5 |
| Haringey | 264130 | 36 | 49.0% | 64.7% | £542.6 |
| Harrow | 260987 | 38 | 55.2% | 58.5% | £577.5 |
| Havering | 262022 | 39 | 60.9% | 53.4% | £584.6 |
| Hillingdon | 304792 | 36 | 62.3% | 54.2% | £586.0 |
| Hounslow | 287940 | 36 | 61.7% | 53.7% | £564.6 |
| Islington | 216767 | 33 | 51.0% | 72.8% | £665.6 |
| Kensington & Chelsea | 143940 | 39 | 45.5% | 66.8% | £767.0 |
| Kingston Upon Thames | 167845 | 38 | 57.2% | 66.5% | £667.8 |
| Lambeth | 317498 | 33 | 50.1% | 71.7% | £673.6 |
| Lewisham | 299810 | 35 | 57.8% | 68.0% | £574.9 |
| Merton | 215324 | 37 | 55.1% | 66.4% | £586.3 |
| Newham | 350626 | 32 | 47.3% | 56.0% | £567.4 |
| Redbridge | 309836 | 36 | 61.6% | 52.8% | £581.9 |
| Richmond Upon Thames | 195232 | 41 | 56.4% | 72.2% | £699.5 |
| Southwark | 306374 | 33 | 44.2% | 70.5% | £631.9 |
| Sutton | 209517 | 39 | 57.8% | 57.2% | £565.8 |
| Tower Hamlets | 312273 | 30 | 47.8% | 59.1% | £680.3 |
| Waltham Forest | 278050 | 35 | 53.2% | 57.8% | £624.7 |
| Wandsworth | 328367 | 33 | 50.8% | 74.4% | £746.7 |
| City of Westminster | 205087 | 35 | 49.7% | 63.5% | £771.6 |
Analysis
Analysis refers to the systematic examination and interpretation of data, information, or a problem to understand its components, relationships, patterns, and underlying principles. It involves breaking down complex elements into smaller parts, studying their characteristics, and drawing meaningful insights or conclusions from the observations. By analyzing the provided data above, we can observe the following:
Population Sizes: The population sizes differ significantly across areas, ranging from approximately 8,600 in the City of London to over 390,000 in Croydon.
Median Age: The median age ranges from 30 to 41 years. The youngest area is Tower Hamlets with a median age of 30, while Bromley has the oldest median age at 41.
Overweight/Obese Rates: The percentage of overweight/obese individuals varies across different areas, ranging from 44.2% in Southwark to 70.5% in Barking & Dagenham. The average percentage seems to be around 57-62%.
Physical Activity Levels: The proportion of individuals who are sufficiently active also varies across areas, with a range of 47.8% in the City of London to 74.4% in Wandsworth. On average, it appears that around 60-70% of the population is sufficiently active.
Weekly Earnings: Weekly earnings show variation, with values ranging from £507.9 in Enfield to £1,138.00 in the City of London. The average weekly earnings seem to be around £550-£700.
No Data: The City of London does not provide specific data on the overweight/obese percentage. It is important to note this limitation when comparing it to other areas.
A correlation is a statistical measure that describes the relationship between two variables. It indicates the strength and direction of the linear association between variables. Based on the provided data, the following correlations can be observed:
Negative Correlation between Median Age and Percentage of Overweight/Obese: Generally, areas with a higher median age tend to have a lower percentage of overweight or obese individuals. This correlation suggests that older populations may have healthier weight profiles compared to younger populations.
Positive Correlation between Median Age and Weekly Earnings: Areas with a higher median age tend to have higher average weekly earnings. This correlation suggests that as the population ages, there is a higher likelihood of increased income levels.
Positive Correlation between Percentage of Sufficiently Active and Percentage of Overweight/Obese: Areas with a higher percentage of sufficiently active individuals tend to have a lower percentage of overweight or obese individuals. This correlation indicates that physical activity levels may have a beneficial effect on weight management.
Positive Correlation between Percentage of Sufficiently Active and Weekly Earnings: Areas with a higher percentage of sufficiently active individuals tend to have higher average weekly earnings. This correlation suggests a potential link between physical activity levels and socioeconomic status.
No Clear Correlation between Percentage of Overweight/Obese and Weekly Earnings: The relationship between the percentage of overweight or obese individuals and weekly earnings is not evident from the data. Some areas with higher weekly earnings, such as City of Westminster, have a high percentage of overweight or obese individuals, while others, like Kensington & Chelsea, have a lower percentage.
It's important to note that these correlations do not imply causation and may be influenced by other factors not captured in the data. To establish more robust causal relationships, further analysis and consideration of additional variables are necessary.
References
Active lives (no date) Sport England. Available at: https://www.sportengland.org/research-and-data/data/active-lives (Accessed: December 31, 2022).
Active lives: Results (no date) Active Lives | Results. Available at: https://activelives.sportengland.org/Result?queryId=83953 (Accessed: December 31, 2022).
Greater London Authority. (2023). State of London. [Online]. Available at: https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/state-of-london (Accessed: 11 May 2023).
Home: London sport insight portal (2022) Home | London Sport Insight Portal. Available at: https://data.londonsport.org/ (Accessed: December 31, 2022).
Median age - census maps, ons (2021) Home - Office for National Statistics. Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/maps/choropleth/population/median-age/median-age/median-age?lad=E09000005 (Accessed: 26 June 2023).
Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) (no date) Physical activity, Physical Activity - Data - OHID. Available at: https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/physical-activity/data#page/1/gid/1938132899/pat/15/ati/6/are/E12000007/iid/93014/age/298/sex/4/cat/-1/ctp/-1/yrr/1/cid/4/tbm/1/page-options/ovw-do-0_car-do-0 (Accessed: December 31, 2022).
(2021) NHS choices. Available at: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/statistics-on-obesity-physical-activity-and-diet/england-2021/data-tables (Accessed: 14 June 2023).
Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) (2021) Local Authority Health Profiles - area search results, Local Authority Health Profiles - Area search results - OHID. Available at: https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/health-profiles/area-search-results/E12000007?place_name=London&search_type=list-child-areas (Accessed: 14 June 2023).
Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) (2021) Local Authority Health Profiles, Local Authority Health Profiles - Data - OHID. Available at: https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/health-profiles/data#page/3/gid/1938132694/pat/6/par/E12000007/ati/301/are/E09000008/iid/93088/age/168/sex/4/cat/-1/ctp/-1/yrr/1/cid/4/tbm/1 (Accessed: 14 June 2023).
Park, N. (2022) Tell us whether you accept cookies, Estimates of the population for the UK, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - Office for National Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/populationestimatesforukenglandandwalesscotlandandnorthernireland (Accessed: December 31, 2022).
Statista. (n.d.). London: Weekly wage amount by borough. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1344681/london-weekly-wage-amount-by-borough/
