NEW research has found that 55 per cent of Limerick families consider shopping to be their number one family activity, ahead of healthy activities such as exercise or trips to the park.
A significant 45 per cent of Limerick families spend less than one hour per week engaged in physical exercise as a family, according to a survey undertaken by Aviva Health.
While 39 per cent of Limerick adults exercise between three and five times a week on their own, 30 per cent of adults in Limerick with children never take part in any physical activities with their family.
Despite these findings, the majority of Limerick families rated themselves highly on fitness levels.
The vast majority, 70 per cent, awarded themselves A, B or C grades when asked to estimate what grade they thought their family would achieve in a fitness test.
Just 11 per cent of Limerick families surveyed gave their families an E or F grade.
Cycling and swimming proved the most popular sports among Limerick families, with 40 per cent of families who engaged in exercise together taking part in either sport.
Other activities enjoyed by Limerick families include GAA (18 per cent), running/jogging (11 per cent), football (nine per cent), gym (seven per cent), rugby (seven per cent) and athletics (five per cent).
The National Guidelines on Physical Activity for Ireland suggest that adults need at least 30 minutes a day of moderate activity five days a week, while children up to 18 years should be active at a moderate to vigorous level for at least 60 minutes every day.
