People engaging in physical activity
About this Indicator
This indicator looks at the percentage of people participating in sport and physical activity – including walking – in the last 4 weeks.
| Indicator | 2018 Baseline | 2021 Target | 2028 Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| People engaging in physical activity | 77% of people engage in some form of sport and physical activity | At least 80% of people engage in some form of sport and physical activity | At least 90% of people engage in some form of sport and physical activity |
Source
Data comes from the Scottish Household Survey Data Explorer. Physical Activity is the topic selected and the question used is 'Table 5.1 Participation in physical activity and sport by year.' 'Shetland Islands' is selected under 'local authority/Scotland.' The indicator from Scottish Household Survey (SHS) used is 'any including walking.'
Data is also available from supporting files to the national report. In March 2020 the fieldwork approach was altered in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic. This resulted in the majority of the 2020 survey fieldwork, and all of the 2021 survey fieldwork, being carried out using telephone interviewing. Due to a smaller sample size in 2020, the data was not able to be broken down and published at local authority level.
Most recent data
In 2023, 82% of people engaged in some form of sport and physical activity, a decrease from the year before. However, this is an increase on the baseline of 77% and exceeds the 2021 target.Why do we monitor this indicator?
Public Health Scotland informs us that physical inactivity is one of the leading causes of premature death in Scotland. Evidence shows that even small increases in activity can help to prevent and treat chronic diseases and improve quality of life. Physical activity has multiple health, social and economic benefits. A person’s physical activity can be influenced by social and personal factors such as where a person lives or whether they have a job, for example (Public Health Scotland 2022).
This indicator will contribute to monitoring the desired outcomes outlined in the People priority of the Partnership Plan.
“Shetland will continue to be a safe and happy place, with more people feeling connected to their communities and benefitting from living in good places and keeping active.”