WIREDGOV

Three quarters believe their health is good.

Most people in Scotland believe their health is good or very good, according to the latest Scottish Health Survey.

Nearly three quarters of adults, aged 16 and over, (74 per cent) questioned responded positively about their general health in the Scottish Health Survey 2012.

The survey also reports that a quarter of men and 18 per cent of women drank at harmful levels (more than the 21 units a week for men and more than 14 units for women).

A quarter of adults (25 per cent of men and 24 per cent of women) said they were a current cigarette smoker with those aged 25 to 44 most likely to smoke at 29 per cent.

Minister for Public Health Michael Matheson welcomed the figures but urged Scots to do more to take control of their own health.

He said: “These figures are encouraging and I am pleased to see that the majority of people feel that their health is generally very good.

“Smoking and drinking levels have been declining over recent years, however, there is still much to do.

“Alcohol misuse costs Scotland £3.6 billion per year, which equates to £900 per adult in Scotland whether they drink or not.

“Smoking is the primary preventable cause of ill health and premature death and each year tobacco use is associated with over 13,000 deaths and 56,000 hospital admissions in Scotland.

“That is why we are committed to introducing measures to further improve public health, such as minimum unit pricing and standardised packaging for cigarettes.

“It is also encouraging that 62 per cent of adults meet the new recommended levels of physical activity, and this shows that efforts to get people more active are working.

“However, we want to make Scotland a more active nation by encouraging people to make physical activity a part of their everyday lives, and that is why we want to increase participation through a range of new initiatives, such as a national walking strategy and a physical activity implementation plan.

“It is well known that regular activity provides a great range of health benefits and makes people feel happier, less stressed and adds years of quality life.”

The report this year also looks at gambling behaviour for the first time.Levels of problem gambling in Scotland are low and consistent with levels seen across the UK. However, the Scottish Government recognises the devastation that gambling problems can cause for individuals and will continue to press the UK Government to ensure that the fast changing gambling landscape doesn’t lead to more widespread problems.

In addition, sixty-two per cent of adults meet the new physical activity guideline of 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week with men at 67 per cent more likely to do so than women (58 per cent).

Seventy per cent of children aged two to 15 years of age are active for at least 60 minutes a day with boys more likely than girls to meet the guideline (73 per cent versus 68 per cent).

Two thirds of children also have a healthy weight at 67.5 per cent which is an increase from 65.4 per cent last year.

The majority of households do not smoke indoors (59 per cent) and 15 per cent of adults lived in households where smoking was permitted indoors but only in certain areas or rooms.

Almost one in five children under 16 (19 per cent) lived in households where someone smokes inside the home, however only 12 per cent reported being exposed to smoke in the home which shows that efforts have been made to minimise children’s direct exposure to smoke.

Notes to editors

To view the Scottish Health Survey, visit: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Health/scottish-health-survey/Publications