To not believe 57% do recommended exercise

[brasty]

According to the census, 57% of people have self reported that they do the recommended amount of exercise of 2.5 hours a week. I simply don't believe this. I suspect the figure is much lower.
AIBU to think this is higher than in reality, because it is based on self reporting?

A laptop in a sturdy bag with a charger, make up, gym kit would be heavy enough. The total weight I carry when commuting is easily at least 20kg and my bag isn't nearly as big or heavy as most commuters

Given that a fairly heavy suitcase usually doesn't exceed 20 kilos, I am guessing that you don't. 20kg is pretty damm heavy and you would really struggle to carry it on your commute.

My laptop is 1.3kgs, my gym kit about 1.5 and make-up, towel, toiletries and notepads, probably no more than about 2. But that's fine- weight-bearing exercise doesn't have to mean heavy weights.

I would not class walking as exercise as it doesn't raise the heart rate enough. You're probably right, people are probably classing things they think as exercise when they aren't really.

I'm a naturally brisk walker who leaves longer legged people in the dust and regularly puff up hills with a toddler in the buggy, toddler on the buggy board and a rucksack full of groceries as well as walking the dog. If I weren't a comfort eater, I would be very slim. As it is I am a few pounds overweight with rock hard calves. I do over 2.5 hours exercise a week easy.

I'd definitely be self reporting that wrong then - I'd have assumed that I did 2.5 hrs moderate exercise a week.

I walk 15-18 hours a week (dog walking) at a very slow pace (she sniffs everything).

Very surprised that doesn't count - I don't get my heart rate up ever.

It's possible to walk fast enough to get the heart rate up though. If you're walking fast, heart pumping, why wouldn't that count as exercise? Obviously an angle doesn't, though it's burning slightly more calories than sitting.

Yes if you are walking so that you are slightly out of breath and your heart is pumping, it counts.