Differences in physical strength depending on club membership: Exercise opportunities for women in their 40s are also an issue - Japan Sports Agency survey

On the 11th, the Japan Sports Agency's 2025 ``Physical Strength and Athletic Ability Survey'' revealed that the gap in physical strength between those who belong to athletic clubs and sports clubs and those who do not is widening, especially among the younger generation. As women in their 40s are showing a noticeable decline in their physical strength, the agency will work to create an environment for each generation so that they can have the opportunities to exercise they need.

The survey was conducted between May and October last year, targeting people aged 6 to 79 nationwide, and collected data from a total of 60,213 people. We analyzed the ``total physical strength score,'' which quantifies the results of different events for each generation, such as grip strength and upper body posture.

In this survey, for the first time, we investigated the relationship between whether a person belongs to an athletic club or local sports club and their total physical fitness score. Comparing the results for 12, 15, and 19 year olds, 25 to 29, 35 to 39, 45 to 49, and 65 to 69 year olds every three years up to fiscal 2001, the total score of club members exceeded that of non-members in every category and gender.

The gap in scores between affiliated and non-affiliated groups has been widening over the long term, especially among younger generations. For example, for 19-year-old boys, the difference was 6.29 points in 2001, but it increased to 8.45 points in 2025. Compared to 2001, the total score for affiliated students increased by 0.87 points, while the total score for non-affiliated students decreased by 1.29 points.

The club membership rate remained at a high level for 12- and 15-year-olds, but dropped significantly for 19-year-olds. An agency official said, ``One of the issues is how to secure opportunities for exercise after graduating from high school and before entering the workforce.''