Scottish Health Survey 2018: main report - revised 2020

An amended version of the Scottish Health Survey 2018 main report.


Table 6.5: Reasons for participating in activity, 2018, by age and sex

Base: Aged 16 and over who took part in any sport / exercise in the past month 2018
Reasons for participating in activitya Age Total
16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+
% % % % % % % %
Men To keep fit (not just to lose weight) 77 71 77 66 64 57 51 69
To lose weight 19 38 33 30 27 15 5 27
To take children 1 8 20 15 4 10 2 10
To socialise 32 32 37 30 32 40 39 34
To train/ take part in competition 34 15 10 14 7 3 8 14
To improve my performance 35 34 31 20 22 16 15 27
Just enjoy it 71 63 71 58 65 72 63 66
To help with injury or disability 6 5 9 8 12 9 8 8
Part of voluntary work 3 0 2 2 1 2 2 2
To walk the dog 4 9 14 14 8 11 3 10
For health reasons/ to improve health 17 35 39 44 39 39 32 35
For peace and quiet 16 14 15 19 25 19 13 18
To de-stress, relax and unwind 41 46 46 43 46 31 20 42
To feel closer to nature 3 8 20 16 21 23 14 14
Other 2 4 2 3 5 2 7 3
Women To keep fit (not just to lose weight) 68 62 73 74 67 63 60 68
To lose weight 33 37 53 31 26 14 15 33
To take children 2 24 26 13 6 9 12 14
To socialise 37 28 24 27 27 46 49 31
To train/ take part in competition 13 11 7 5 3 1 2 7
To improve my performance 23 21 19 10 11 8 9 16
Just enjoy it 61 61 53 58 60 67 61 59
To help with injury or disability 5 7 7 13 13 13 10 9
Part of voluntary work 2 1 1 1 1 3 0 1
To walk the dog 9 12 19 11 13 6 9 12
For health reasons/ to improve health 22 32 37 44 52 37 41 37
For peace and quiet 7 18 13 17 15 15 7 14
To de-stress, relax and unwind 36 53 47 58 45 31 28 46
To feel closer to nature 3 13 13 14 14 19 7 12
Other 1 2 - 2 - 1 - 1
All adults To keep fit (not just to lose weight) 73 66 75 70 65 60 55 68
To lose weight 26 37 43 31 26 15 10 30
To take children 1 16 23 14 5 10 7 12
To socialise 35 30 31 28 30 43 44 32
To train/ take part in competition 23 13 8 9 5 2 5 11
To improve my performance 29 28 25 15 16 13 12 21
Just enjoy it 67 62 62 58 62 70 62 63
To help with injury or disability 6 6 8 11 12 11 9 9
Part of voluntary work 2 1 1 1 1 3 1 1
To walk the dog 6 11 17 12 11 9 6 11
For health reasons/ to improve health 19 33 38 44 45 38 36 36
For peace and quiet 12 16 14 18 20 17 10 16
To de-stress, relax and unwind 39 49 47 50 45 31 24 44
To feel closer to nature 3 11 17 15 18 21 10 13
Other 1 3 1 3 3 2 3 2
Unweighted bases Men 69 119 120 146 128 112 56 750
Women 100 159 152 171 153 100 52 887
All adults 169 278 272 317 281 212 108 1637
Weighted bases Men 146 184 153 156 130 84 42 894
Women 138 174 144 154 128 69 44 851
All adults 284 358 296 310 258 153 86 1746

a Respondents selected as many reasons as apply

Contact

Email: scottish_health_survey@gov.scot

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