Over 120 deaths in area due to lack of exercise

MORE than 120 people die due to a lack of exercise in Dumfries and Galloway every year, it has been revealed.

Research by Public Health Scotland has pointed to physical inactivity directly being linked to deaths in the region.

The issue was discussed at Dumfries and Galloway Council’s education, skills, and community wellbeing committee last week as the local authority’s physical activity strategy report was tabled.

The death figures were described as “a real point of concern” by Stranraer and the Rhins Councillor Ben Dashper.

The council’s physical activity strategy is a 50-page document which lays out work being done to improve the health and wellbeing of residents.

However, it also presented sobering facts.

The document states: “A report published by Public Health Scotland demonstrated the consequence of physical inactivity to population health.

“The report estimated that more than one hundred deaths (124) are attributable to physical inactivity in Dumfries and Galloway annually in adults, with 29 being from cardiovascular disease and 19 from cancer.

“Critically, 80 percent of these deaths come from those doing the lowest levels of physical activity.”

As a result, the strategy focuses on creating environments and opportunities that target those with very low levels of activity and support them to become and remain more active.

Officials say there is “compelling evidence” for more investment into physical activity programmes and facilities for health, wellbeing and disease prevention.

The document explains: “Over a third of adults (36 per cent) and half of school aged pupils (50 per cent) do not meet the recommended levels of physical activity in Dumfries and Galloway.

“Data shows that long-standing inequalities exists in physical activity levels in different groups (e.g. age, gender, disability), posing a persistent challenge.

“A further challenge is the proportion of our adult population undertaking muscle strengthening activities.

“Around three quarters of adults in our region do not meet the muscle strengthening guideline, compared with 69 per cent nationally, increasing risk of frailty, falls and de-conditioning.”

Meanwhile, council chiefs have admitted only around half of children and young people in the area are meeting activity guidelines.