Physical activity: policy context

The key policy document relating to physical activity in Scotland is Let's make Scotland more active. This strategy, published in February 2003, contains a series of recommendations, including national targets for increasing physical activity levels in Scotland. The targets are to achieve 50% of adults aged over 16 and 80% of children aged 16 and under meeting the minimum of physical activity by 2022. The Scottish Health Survey is being used to measure progress towards these targets. 

In 2008, a Review Group carried out a Five year review of Let's make Scotland more active. Findings were published in 2009 and concluded that it remains an essential strategy to influence Scotland's inactive population and found no evidence to suggest that the strategy should be substantially revised and therefore endorsed the continuation of the strategy for the next five 5 years (2008-2013). The review group subsequently released an update statement in 2010 following the publication of the 2008 Scottish Health Survey data in December 2009.

The Scottish Physical Activity and Health Alliance was formed in 2006 and is facilitated by NHS Health Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government. It aims to support physical activity and health practitioners in Scotland in the implementation of the physical activity strategy. The importance of the Alliance was reaffirmed by the Scottish Government within Healthy eating, active living: action Plan (2008-2001) where they restated there commitment to "retain and strengthen" the Physical activity and Health Alliance "ensuring a focused strategy for future activity".

Links to other policy documents of relevance to physical activity in Scotland are available from the Scottish Policies and Strategies page of the ScotPHO website.