Physical activity

This section presents two data sources pertaining to physical activity during childhood and adolescence: (1) The Scottish Government Health and Wellbeing Census carried out in Glasgow primary and secondary schools with children and young people from P5 to S6; and (2) the Hands Up Scotland Survey which tracks how pupils in Scotland travel to nursery, and primary and secondary school in Scotland. 

Physical and sedentary behaviour

In 2021-22, one third (31%) of pupils from P5 to S6 reported that they engaged in physical activity every day, while 3% reported they never did any physical activity. 

Pupils reported to be more sedentary during the weekend compared to weekdays, with one third (30%) reporting sedentary behaviour for seven hours or more during the weekend, compared to 7% reporting sedentary behaviour for seven hours or more during the week. 

Active travel

Across Scotland, almost half (49%) of pupils surveyed were using active travel to school in 2023. This was a slight decrease in active travel among young people from a 51% high in 2020, but it is still higher than pre-COVID-19 levels (48% in 2019). 

Scottish cities

In Glasgow more than half (54%) of children were using active travel to school in 2023, which is an overall increase from 50% in 2016. Edinburgh consistently had the highest percentage of children using active travel to school since 2010, peaking at 73% in 2020. The national average of active travel to school was lower for most of the period but the rurality of many local authorities in Scotland, and the subsequent distance to and from school, ought to be considered when interpreting the data.

Glasgow City Region

Of the selected local authorities in the Glasgow City Region, Glasgow consistently had the highest percentage of pupils actively travelling to school. West Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde consistently had a lower percentage of children actively travelling to school than the national average.

Notes

This page was updated in March 2025.