NEW health statistics have revealed 124 people die each year in Dumfries and Galloway as a result of lack of exercise.
And South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth, above, has warned more people in the region will ‘die early and live their last years in pain’ due to the Scottish Government’s cuts to active health campaigns and sport.
A further 226.9 disability-adjusted life years – years spent living with diseases such as cancers, strokes or heart disease – can also be attributed to physical inactivity.
More than 3000 deaths across Scotland can be attributed to a lack of exercise, according to public health statistics published this month, with cancer and cardio-vascular disease accounting for around a third.
But in answer to a question from Scottish Labour’s Jackie Baillie, Health Secretary Neil Gray confirmed that the SNP Government was cutting £1.2m from the Active Healthy Lives programme which focused on promoting physical activity and diet and healthy weight.
Earlier this month, the Scottish Government announced a £23.7m cut to active travel funding.
And analysis by Scottish Labour published in June exposed a £400 million cumulative cut to grassroots sports as a result of SNP cuts to council budgets.
Mr Smyth said: “The findings are stark – those who do the least physical activity in our region are at most risk of living shorter lives, with their last years often spent in agony.
“Yet this government has presided over cuts to grassroots sport and active travel that is creating an ill-health time bomb for the future.
“More Scots will die early and live their last years in pain unless this SNP government acts quickly to ensure these cuts don’t cause permanent harm.”
