Long Term Monitoring of Health Inequalities: Headline Indicators – October 2015

Child sedentary activity

Indicator Source: Scottish Health Survey

Latest Results

• In 2015, children (aged 2 to 15 years) spent a mean time of 2.0 hours sitting watching a television or other screen^[10] on weekdays and 3.0 hours on weekend days (excluding time at school).
• The rates for all children have been relatively stable since 2003, at around 2.0 to 2.3 mean hours on weekdays and 2.7 to 3.0 hours on weekend days.
• Boys spent more time sitting watching a television or other screen than girls, particularly at weekends when the mean times recorded were 3.1 hours for boys and 2.8 hours for girls.

• The proportion of children spending four or more hours sitting watching a television or other screen on an average day (excluding time in school) in 2015 was 12% (13% for boys, 12% for girls). This was an increase compared to 2014 (9%), but remains significantly lower than the proportion in 2003 (16%).

Figure 12: Proportion of children (2-15) spending four or more hours sitting watching TV/other screen, by gender, 2003-2015

About This Indicator

Desired Outcome:

Increased energy expenditure.

Definition:

Time spent at a screen (TV or other screen such as a computer, games console or handheld gaming device) on an average day (including weekdays and weekends) excluding time at school.

Relevant Route Map action:

Early years actions, specifically less sedentary activities for young children.

Geography available:

National.

Equalities data:

Breakdowns by equalities groups are possible but not all are available annually.

Rationale for including this indicator:

The aim of this indicator is to monitor the proportion of children engaging in sedentary behaviour such as hours spent sitting at screen on an average day.

Factors influencing this indicator:

• Choice of leisure activities.
• Availability of alternatives to screen-based activity.
• Safe outdoor spaces to play.