SCOTLAND is the only nation in the UK where a larger proportion of adults admit they are less physically active than they were five years ago, according to a survey from ukactive.
The findings show that 44per cent of Scottish adults say they are moving less than they were five years ago in 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic – suggesting that activity levels in the country could be on the decline.
Polling organisation Savanta found that in contrast, just 21 per cent of Scots think they are moving more than they did five years ago, which could have grave implications for the NHS as well as lost working days due to sickness.
The data shows that of the other nations, in England, 32 per cent think they are moving less than they were five years ago, and the figure was the same for those from Northern Ireland. In Wales, this was only slightly higher, with 34 per cent saying they are moving less than five years ago.
In 2019 the Scottish Health Survey showed that 66 per cent of Scottish adults met the Chief Medical Officers’ recommendation of at least 150 minutes (two-and-a-half hours) of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity a week.
In 2022, the figure dropped to 65 per cent and for those that failed to meet the recommendation, the main reasons given were that their health was not good enough (41 per cent), it was difficult to find time (22 per cent) and not being interested (20 per cent).
ukactive is calling on the main party leaders to urgently address physical inactivity in Scotland by looking at ways to drive participation and support the physical activity sector to grow and reach more people.
It is calling on the next Government to support the sector in building a long-term vision for facilities to support as many people as possible in accessing spaces to keep active.