White, middle-aged and well-off people are more likely than other adults to take part in sport, according to new research.

Scientists at University College London found that overall participation in recreational sports and exercises in England increased between 1997 and 2006.

But the most apparent increase appeared to be the result of increases among middle-aged and older adults.

In younger men the opposite was found to be the case as there have been substantial decreases in participation in many common sports.

And the gap between rich and poor, and black and white, appears to have widened, rather than narrowed, in a decade.

The findings are based on data from several of the annual Health Surveys for England between 1997 and 2006.

The entire sample comprised 61,000 adults, just under half of whom (27,217) were men.

In 2006, men were around ten per cent more likely and women around 20 per cent more likely to participate regularly in sports compared with the figures for 1997.

This suggests that the perception of a much talked about overall decline in sporting activities may be "over simplistic", the British Journal of Sports Medicine study claims.

The increase is mainly attributable to gym and fitness activities, with both sexes around 20 per cent more likely to participate in them than they were in 1997. The proportion of regular female runners/joggers also doubled to four per cent over the decade.

The researchers conclude that the decline in sporting activity among younger people is worrying.

"Another cause of concern is that there are no signs the gap between high and low socioeconomic groups and white and non-white ethnic groups is narrowing," they add.

"Sport-promoting and health policy efforts should focus on these groups and try to expand participation. A better understanding of the mechanisms behind the 'success story' of middle-aged and older adults through health and sport policy research may assist such efforts."

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