Japan Sports Agency reports declining fitness in women aged 30–40

A survey by the Japan Sports Agency reveals a declining trend in physical fitness among women in their 30s and 40s over the 25-year period from 2001 to 2025. Specifically, fitness levels for women in their 30s and 40s have dropped to 96.3 and 93.6 points respectively, when using 2001 as a baseline of 100.

Data also indicates a decline in fitness among men in their 40s since the start of the Reiwa era. Experts attribute these trends to a reduction in opportunities for exercise, noting lower membership rates in sports clubs and a decrease in people exercising at least once a week.

For women in the child-rearing and working age groups, the burden of balancing professional work with housework and childcare is cited as a significant factor. This heavy workload, combined with constraints regarding time and cost, prevents many from maintaining regular exercise habits.