‘Walk a mile every day in your breaks’

WORKERS are being urged to walk a mile during their breaks every day in the latest Scottish Government bid to tackle obesity.

Staff are also being encouraged to take part in ‘walking meetings’ during working hours, to help them become more active.

The scheme, announced by Sports Minister Aileen Campbell yesterday, is an extension to the Scottish Government’s Daily Mile scheme, which is operating in more than 1,000 schools.

This gives pupils a 15-minute activity break to run, walk or jog a mile.

The Government is now writing to public and private sector companies and organisations encouraging staff to walk a mile every day ‘to improve their health, wellbeing and fitness’.

Ministers want Scotland to be the ‘world’s first Daily Mile nation’.

Two thirds of adults are overweight or obese and a third do not meet physical activity guidelines that recommend around half an hour of moderate exercise a day.

The Government has written to all nurseries, colleges and universities asking them to take part in the scheme.

Launching it at the Glasgow HQ of ScottishPower, the first company to sign up, Miss Campbell said: ‘It only takes around 15 minutes so the Daily Mile could easily become part of staff breaks – giving great benefits to their health and wellbeing.’

But Josie Appleton of the Manifesto Club, which campaigns on personal freedom, said: ‘What people choose to do in their lunch breaks is their business – it’s time off.

‘Some may go for a walk, others may have a cigarette and eat chips. It’s up to them.

‘In working hours, people should be left to get on with their jobs, rather than having to jump through hoops for the lifestyle police.’

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Miles Briggs said: ‘Anything that encourages a healthy lifestyle among workers should be encouraged.

‘Obesity is one of Scotland’s major public health crises. However, the SNP will have to prove this is more than a token gesture.’