Leisure, including rest, recreation and physical activity, improves our sense of positive health and well-being as well as helping to prevent or minimise the effects of disease or ill-health. Participation in regular moderate physical activity is associated with reduced death rate from all causes. In particular, it has been proven to reduce heart disease, osteoporosis, obesity and colon cancer.
It can also improve psychological well-being by raising self-esteem and confidence and by decreasing levels of depression. The health benefits of physical activity apply to all age groups.
Active children are more likely to become active adults and this highlights the importance of encouraging physical activity from early childhood.
In older adults, regular moderate physical activity can help maintain physiological and mental functioning.
Physical activity includes any activity which can be part of our daily routine such as brisk walking, gardening, housework, in addition to the more traditional notions of sport and exercise (e.g. cycling and swimming).
Current recommendations have been set out in Scotland's physical activity strategy as follows:
- For adults: to accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate activity on most days of the week.
- For children: to accumulate at least one hour of moderate activity on most days of the week.
Moderate activity is defined as being equivalent to brisk walking.
West Dunbartonshire Council, along with the private sector, provides a range of sport and leisure facilities, including sport centres, playing fields, tennis and squash courts, bowling greens, golf courses and swimming pools.
In addition, local residents have extensive green and open spaces to enjoy and in which to take exercise.
