How almost half of Scots don’t do ANY daily exercise
ALMOST half of Scotland’s adults do not get any form of physical activity on a daily basis.
Experts say the country is sleepwalking towards a public health ‘catastrophe’ unless drastic action is taken to increase the levels of daily exercise.
Across the UK, 15million adults are classed as physically inactive because they undertake less than 30 minutes of moderate activity each week.
A damning report by the 2012 Olympic Games legacy fund, Spirit of 2012, revealed 46 per cent of Scots do not do any daily exercise. Those from lower socio-economic back
‘Barriers can be removed’
grounds, as well as older people, the disabled and some minority ethnic groups are the most likely to be physically inactive.
Ruth Hollis, chief executive of Spirit of 2012, said: ‘For a quarter of a century in this country, we haven’t even dented levels of inactivity. There are a number of reasons for that.
‘However, there are many grassroots programmes that have successfully shown that many of the barriers to becoming and staying active can be removed.’
Throughout the pandemic, however, a third of people across the UK started walking, cycling or running more over lockdown. Spirit of 2012 is now calling on the Government to continue encouraging physical activity as restrictions ease and people head back to the office.
As restrictions ended, 5.2million of the least active people managed to maintain their lockdown walking Those living with dogs are 20 per cent more likely to walk or cycle more than 30 minutes a day compared to those people without.
Despite positive increases in exercising over the pandemic, the report states that an intervention is needed to stop a public health catastrophe in Scotland.
Director of Spirit of 2012 Kirsty Ewen said: ‘Being involved in the programme was transformational for my confidence, self-esteem and my mental health and wellbeing.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We have committed to doubling investment in sport and active living to £100million a year by the end of the parliament. In addition to raising physical activity levels, this will allow us to rebuild capacity and resilience.’