Scots struggling to maintain good health
Alison Johnstone MSP, Health spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, today urged investment to tackle poor health as new figures showed an increase in average waistlines, with two-thirds of adults classed as overweight.
The Scottish Health Survey reveals two-thirds of all women and nearly three in five men are at increased risk of disease based on their Body Mass Index and waist circumference.
There has been no improvement in the number of adults meeting the recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week, and the proportion of children not eating any fruit or vegetables has dropped from 10 per cent to just 7 per cent in two years.
Alison Johnstone MSP said:
“It’s understandable that many Scots struggle to maintain good health when we see so little investment in the infrastructure that allows people to fit exercise into their daily lives. The Scottish Government have continually prioritised private cars over public transport, walking and cycling. On top of this, the Westminster Government’s agenda of cuts and sanctions has pushed thousands into poverty, making the challenge of eating a balanced diet even harder.
“If we want a healthy population we must invest in preventative measures. Greens have previously proposed a Healthy Challenge Fund to help local communities and we want to see a national roll out of Glasgow’s Healthier Wealthier Children programme to boost incomes for vulnerable families.”