Paths for All plan to fight ‘inactivity’

A NATIONAL walking strategy has been announced in a bid to cut the 2,500 deaths caused by physical inactivity.

The Scottish Government aims to support and develop infrastructure to encourage walking hoping to bring most Scots to within “a normal weight range” by 2030.

Sports minister Shona Robison told MSPs at Holyrood: “We know physical inactivity contributes to nearly 2,500 deaths each year in Scotland alone. The costs to the NHS is around £91 million a year and a further £58m for medicines to treat conditions associated with inactivity.”

The Scottish Government is keeping to a £3.3m physical activity budget for the next three years, which includes £1.2m a year for the walking programme, Paths for All.