High Level Summary of Statistics Trend Last update: Thursday, May 31, 2007
Physical Activity
Adults - key summary findings from the Scottish Health Survey 2003 for the adult population include the following:
- The proportion of the population participating in physical activity, for at least 15 minutes in the last four weeks, increased from 80% in 1998 to 83% in 2003 in men, and from 80% to 82% in women aged 16-74. These increases were due to a higher prevalence of walking and sports and exercise.
- The proportions of men and women aged 16-74 meeting the physical activity recommendations (30 minutes of at least moderate exercise on most days of the week) increased significantly from 41% in 1998 to 44% in 2003 in men, and from 30% in 1998 to 33% in 2003 in women. Increases in physical activity participation were particularly marked for men and women aged 55-74.
- The proportion of men with high activity levels decreased markedly with age from 59% among men aged 16-24, to 13% among men aged 75 and over.
- The proportion of women with high activity levels remained stable between the ages of 16 and 54 (35-40%) and decreased thereafter to 6% among women aged 75 and over.
Children - key summary findings from the Scottish Health Survey 2003 for children include the following:
- 74% of boys and 63% of girls aged 2-15 participated in physical activity for 60 minutes or more on 7 days a week (the level of activity currently recommended for children). The Scottish Executive's long-term target is for 80% of children to meet the recommendations.
- A further 12% of boys and 18% of girls participated for at least 30 minutes on 7 days (which is the recommended target for children who are currently inactive).
- Overall activity levels declined with age among girls (but not among boys) after the age of 8-10. By age 13-15, only 41% of girls did at least 60 minutes' physical activity on 7 days. In contrast, the percentage of 13-15 year-old boys who did so remained high at 68%.
- Boys' activity levels did not vary to any great extent by socio-demographic factors. In contrast, there was a tendency for girls' activity levels to increase as household income decreased, and as area deprivation increased.
Note - although closely related to Sport, lead responsibility for policies on Physical Activity rests with the Scottish Executive Health Department.
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