More than 3,000 deaths in a year due to physical inactivity – report

Physical inactivity led to more than 3,000 deaths in Scotland in a single year, a study has estimated.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) estimated the burden of disease attributable to physical inactivity – which is a key factor in the development of non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular problems and cancer.

It built on a study released last year, which found physical inactivity led to the loss of more than 3,000 years of life due to heart disease in Scotland during 2019.

The latest study estimates that of the 62,941 deaths that occurred in Scotland in 2022, some 3,185 were attributable to physical inactivity.

Cancer and cardiovascular disease accounted for around one third of these.

The bulk of the disease burden is among those who have “very low” levels of physical activity, the study found.

The PHS report noted: “Public health efforts to increase population levels of physical activity in Scotland require a particular focus on those who are least active to improve the health of the nation and enable people to live longer lives in better health.”

It added: “Analysis of national data in Scotland shows that a third of the population does not meet recommended levels of aerobic activity and around three-quarters do not meet recommended levels of muscle strengthening activity.

“In these surveys, women are frequently less active than men, and activity levels decrease with increasing age.”

3,200 deaths due to physical inactivity

Scottish Liberal Democrat sport spokesperson Neil Alexander said: “This study lays bare the cost of inactivity and the role it plays in the premature deaths of thousands of Scots each year.

“We know how important being active is to both good physical and mental health.

“Too many local communities are losing access to much-needed facilities as local authorities struggle to cope with the SNP Government’s funding squeeze.

“These statistics are a sobering reminder of how important it is to have accessible and affordable sport and leisure facilities – one of the ways government can help people be more active.”