CMO Supports Day of Movement
I am absolutely delighted to support Scotland’s National Day of Movement on 18 June 2025, facilitated by Movement for Health. This is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate how physical activity, regardless of your level of fitness, can help to improve your physical, mental and social health.
The data around the consequences of inactivity really do speak for themselves. The Scottish Burden of Disease study suggests that there will be a 21% rise in illness experienced by our population by 2043, two thirds of which is accounted for by cardiovascular disease, cancer and neurological conditions and we know that there is a clear link between these non-communicable diseases and rates of inactivity.
Over 3,000 deaths and over 11,000 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were recorded as being attributable to physical inactivity in Scotland in 2022. And, in 2023, 32% of adults were recognised as living with obesity— the highest recorded to date. Sixty-four per cent of adults had at least an increased risk of ill health based on BMI and waist circumference. At the same time, results from the same survey shows only 63% of adults meeting the recommended guidelines on physical activity levels.
However, health care systems – including ours – tend to have a much greater focus on treatment rather than prevention. So… what does prevention look like in terms of physical activity?
We often hear people describe themselves as “not really a gym person” or ‘I don’t have time to exercise” and we need to shift that rhetoric and re-define what we mean by physical activity. To me, it is as simple as ‘movement’. It’s about doing what we can to keep ourselves fit within our own sphere of ability. Looking beyond the walls of the gym to think about the connection between movement and what motivates and interests us. Physical activity can encompass so many things, including; grabbing a coffee ‘to go’ and taking a walk with a friend to catch up, joining a dance class or pottering around in your garden for an afternoon.
There is no one size that fits all and the real secret is finding something that you enjoy doing which doesn’t actually feel like you are doing exercise at all.
The other benefit of physical activity is that it can connect you to other people, whether that be through joining a rambling group, golfing with a colleague or even taking part in walking football initiatives. Through connecting with others, you will not only improve your physical and mental health but, also your social wellbeing and you might just have fun and learn something new whilst you are doing it.
For many, particularly those living with long term conditions, life can feel incredibly isolating and so, exploring these opportunities to meet new people, perhaps with similar health conditions, whilst improving their own health can really help to ease the burden of loneliness that can often be overwhelming.
Exercise and movement is good… but, did you know that doing it in a green space is even more beneficial to your health? In Scotland, we have four Green Health Partnerships which have been exploring the evidence between improving health outcomes & people’s experience of health and exercise (in whatever form) outdoors. The results are really encouraging and indicate that connectivity to nature is greatly beneficial to our mental health and wellbeing.
As healthcare providers, we also need to recognise that not every condition requires medication and, often, a change in diet and exercise can make a significant difference to the quality of a person’s life. Not only that, but, it also helps us to create a more sustainable health and care service as well as being kinder to our planet in reducing our carbon footprint.
If we begin to have a conversation with people on those terms, then we can start to encourage everyone to take personal action to improve their own health… and have fun whilst they are doing it!