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Scotland’s first Physical Activity Awareness Week (PAAW), launched yesterday Monday (21 April) aims to show employers that encouraging their staff to undertake just 150 minutes of physical activity per week can lead to a happier, healthier and more productive workforce.

PAAW will highlight the range of ways that Scots can be more active, and in particular, focuses on encouraging workplaces to get moving as part of the wider Fit in ’14 Campaign.

With an inspiring year of sport ahead with the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, PAAW 2014 offers a unique opportunity to inspire Scots to become more active, creating a lasting legacy and healthier nation.

The long-term outcome of the week, as part of the wider Fit in 14 campaign, is to inspire a more physically active Scottish workforce – working towards reducing sick days, workplace injuries and work-related illness.

Commonwealth Games and Sport Minister Shona Robison said:

“The Scottish Government is committed to increasing rates of physical activity.

“Through Physical Activity Awareness Week and our Fit in ’14 campaign, we want to make Scotland an active nation by encouraging people to get moving as part of their everyday working lives. We will be looking to further increase participation through a range of new initiatives, such as the National Walking Strategy and the 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 to their quality of life.

“I am confident that PAAW will inspire employers to get involved and encourage their workforces to incorporate daily physical activity into their day.”

Physical inactivity results in around 2,500 premature deaths and costs the NHS around £91 million annually. In response to this alarming statistic, the Scottish Government is committed to increasing rates of physical activity and has recently published its first ever national Physical Activity Implementation Plan, reflecting the importance of encouraging Scots to make physical activity a part of their everyday lives.

Using PAAW as a ‘kick start’, organisations of all sizes across Scotland are being encouraged to get involved in Fit in ‘14, with small and simple ways to improve the health and wellbeing of employees at the heart of the campaign.

Background

Physical Activity Awareness Week (PAAW)

Physical Activity Awareness Week (PAAW) will run from Monday April 21 until Sunday April 27 with an aim to show people that doing just 150 minutes of physical activity a week will make them feel healthier – both mentally and physically.

PAAW is running as part of ‘Fit in 14’ – for more information on this please visit www.fitin14.org – with the campaign also forming part of Scotland’s first ever National Physical Activity Implementation Plan,A More Active Scotland – Building a Legacy from the Commonwealth Games, which is available to download at www.scotland.gov.uk

Legacy 2014 is a Scottish Government initiative working to secure a lasting legacy for Scotland from hosting the XX Commonwealth Games. There are over 50 Legacy 2014 national programmes delivered by national partners and more than 50 projects supporting Legacy 2014 in place across Scotland, generating jobs and training opportunities, investing in new or upgraded community facilities, helping people to get more active, and inspiring fun learning opportunities and new global connections.

Visit www.legacy2014.co.uk and Assessing Legacy for more information and to see what has already been achieved.

Events taking place during PAAW include:

The John Muir Festival 2014, which celebrates the life and legacy of pioneering conservationist John Muir, and marks the opening of new national pathway, the John Muir Way, named in his honour.http://www.snh.gov.uk/news-and-events/press-releases/press-release-detail s/?id=982

The 7th National PAHA Conference (Physical Activity and Health Alliance) takes place at Murrayfield on Thursday, 24th April and will be attended by a variety of people from different sectors and professions who are involved in the promotion of physical activity and health in Scotland. Its theme this year is ‘Making the Environment Fit in 14’. http://www.paha.org.uk/Event/paha-conference-2014

Fit in ‘14

Building on the Commonwealth Games' Legacy, Fit in ‘14 is encouraging Scotland’s workplaces to make physical activity a part of their everyday lives.

Organisations of all sizes across Scotland are being encouraged to get involved, with small and simple ways to improve the health and wellbeing of employees at the heart of the campaign.

The reasons for tackling physical inactivity are compelling:
• Physical inactivity results in around 2,500 premature deaths in Scotland each year
• It costs the NHS around £91 million annually and is the second biggest cause of mortality in Scotland
• Being active can help prevent and treat more than 20 chronic diseases
• It is estimated that getting Scotland more active would increase life expectancy by over a year

For more information visit www.fitin14.org