Obesity indicators 2018

Latest results against the obesity indicator framework originally developed to monitor progress against our Prevention of Obesity Route Map (2010). The Route Map has now been overtaken by the Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan and Active Scotland Delivery Plan published in summer 2018.

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Children participating in sport

[19]

Source: Scottish Health Survey

Latest Results

  • In 2017, 67% of children aged 2-15 had participated in sport in the week prior to interview, similar to 2016 (68%).
  • Overall sport participation rates in 2017 were similar for boys and girls (67% and 66% respectively).
  • Rates of participation in sports both for boys and girls peaked at the age of 8-10 (76% for boys and 79% for girls) and then declined to 70% among boys and 69% among girls at the age of 11-12. The level of participation in sports among girls then declined by 24 percentage points between the age of 11-12 (69%) and 13-15 (45%) compared to only a one percentage point decline for boys (from 70% to 69%).
  • In 2017, the gap in the proportion of children having participated in sport in the week prior to interview between the least and most deprived areas was 30% (82% and 52% respectively).

Figure 10. Proportion of children (2-15) participating in sport, by gender, 1998-2017

Figure 10. Proportion of children (2-15) participating in sport, by gender, 1998-2017

Geography available:

National

Equalities data:

Breakdowns by age, gender, SIMD and long-term conditions are possible, but not all are available annually.

Rationale for including child participation in sport:

These data are useful to monitor the proportion of children (aged 2-15 years) participating in any sport.

Factors influencing child participation in sport:

  • Access to opportunities to be physically active. This could include leisure facilities and programmes delivered by sports clubs that encourage young people to be active.
  • Lack of skills and confidence to take part in sport and physical activity.

Contact

Email: Xanthippi Gounari

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