Scottish Health Survey 2011

The Scottish Government has this month (September 2012) released the Scottish Health Survey 2011. This report presents the findings of the seventh Scottish Health Survey and is the fourth report published since the survey became an annual publication in 2008. The survey provides a collection of data gathered from interviews of more than 9,000 adults and children. It provides essential data on cardiovascular disease and the related risk factors, including smoking, alcohol, diet, physical activity and obesity. Information on general health, mental health and dental health are also included.

Unlike previous years, this year’s report has been expanded to include separate volumes for adults and children.

Key physical activity findings from the adult survey

• 39% of adults aged 16 and over met the physical activity recommendations with men more likely than women to meet them.
• The proportions of adults meeting the recommended activity levels declined significantly with age.
• 84% of men and 79% of women participated in at least 10 minutes of physical activity during the 4 weeks prior to being interviewed.
• Sports and exercise was the most popular type of physical activity for men and second most common for women after heavy housework.
• 41% of men and 31% of women reported having walked at a brisk pace for at least 10 minutes in the 4 weeks prior to interview.
• Activity levels were related to household income, with those in higher income households more likely than those with less income to meet the recommended activity levels.
• Deprivation was strongly related to activity levels with adults living in the two most deprived SIMD quintiles least likely to meet the recommendations.

Download: Volume 1 - Adults

Key physical activity findings from the child survey

• 73% of children met the physical activity recommendations including school-based activity.
• Physical activity levels declined with age. This decline with was particularly apparent in girls (48% of girls aged 13-15 met the recommendations compared with 69% of boys).
• There was no significant relationship between household income and meeting recommended child physical activity levels.
• Area deprivation was significantly associated with physical activity levels for boys, but not for girls.
• Fruit and vegetable consumption was significantly associated with meeting the physical activity recommendations.
• Children were more likely to meet the physical activity recommendations if their mothers did so. Children’s activity levels were not associated with the activity levels of their father.

Download: Volume 2 - Children

This report is accompanied by a set of web tables and an interactive mapping tool breaking down the key results by NHS Board and creates a valuable local data resource. In addition to allowing geographical breakdowns, combining the data for recent years allows more detailed analysis of sub-groups than was previously possible.