Physical activity
Physical activity is a key part of daily life in the health promoting school. As part of a whole school approach to health, it can contribute to the physical, social and emotional well-being of young people and staff within the school and its community.
The physical activity pages on this site outline the main areas for consideration for schools and their communities in taking a whole school approach to physical activity.
The benefits of exercise
Health promoting schools help the school community to understand the far-reaching benefits of regular physical activity, which include:
- better general health
- a sense of well-being
- increased self-esteem
- reduced stress and anxiety
- improved mobility
- improved muscular strength and endurance
- strong bones
- steady, healthy weight
- reduced risk of developing eating disorders or adult diseases and conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.
Today's lifestyles encourage sedentary behaviour and provide limited opportunities for us to be physically active as part of our everyday lives. Young people in Scotland are already showing the effects of this, with increased obesity rates and decreased activity levels.
Initiatives for activity
'Let's Make Scotland More Active: A strategy for physical activity' (Scottish Executive, 2003) outlines the importance of physical activity in ensuring a healthy and happy life:
young people need at least one hour of physical activity a day to ensure good health and it is important that health promoting schools offer opportunities for this. Physical activity within the school setting can include physical education (PE), sport, play, active travel, dance, exercise and outdoor activities. All children should also be encouraged to be active in their daily lives at home and in the community.
The Active Schools programme, launched by the Scottish Executive in 2003, aims to support schools in a whole-school approach to physical activity. An Active School looks to provide quality, safe and fun physical activity opportunities for young people in both the formal and informal curriculum.
The Physical Activity and Health Alliance (PAHA) has been created to support physical activity and health practitioners. Membership covers a wide range of organisations and professional groups including service providers in transport, planning, environment, community safety, leisure and recreation, education, housing, children's services, health and many others. The alliance is coordinated by Health Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Executive.
Seminars
During May and June 2005, four regional seminars looking at physical activity within the health promoting school, were held to support practitioners working in and with schools.
Over 250 delegates attended the seminars. The primary aims were to share current practice, examine research evidence and to gain a better understanding of how physical activity and the health promoting school approach fits into wider policy and practice in Scotland.
The 'Physical Activity within the Health Promoting School: a Partnership Approach' seminar report gives an overview of these events.
PDF file: Physical Activity within the Health Promoting School: a Partnership Approach (SHPSU and NHS Health Scotland, 2005) (959KB)