BackImportance of physical activity recognised
Living Streets Scotland are delighted that the Scottish Government has included ‘increasing physical activity’ as a new national indicator in the refreshed National Performance Framework. We’re also happy that there is a new indicator to ‘reduce deaths on Scotland’s roads’ with recognition of pedestrians as one the most vulnerable groups.
The Fifty National Indicators track progress towards the achievement of the Scottish Government’s National Outcomes and Purpose (To focus Government and public services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth)
Living Streets Scotland has long advocated greater recognition of the importance of physical activity, including in our manifesto for the Scottish Parliament elections and fully agree with the stated reason for including this as a national indicator:
“Increasing the proportion of the population meeting physical activity levels is a key legacy aspiration for the Commonwealth Games. There is also a strong health benefit as increases equate to addressing the impact on sedentary lifestyles which can lead to reductions in health issues such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and blood pressure. There is also emerging evidence that physical activity delivers better outcomes for mild depression than prescribed medication.”
Source: National Performance Framework updated, December 2011:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/scotPerforms/NIchanges/Q/forceupdate/on
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/scotPerforms/indicator/roaddeaths
Published on: 04/01/2012
