New figures from National Records of Scotland show the time people in Scotland can expect to live in good health, without serious illness or disability, has fallen to a near ten-year low.
The latest figures show that in 2021-2023 females could expect to enjoy 60 years of good health and males 59.6 on average at birth.
The report also states there is a gap in healthy life expectancy at birth between different council areas. People in North Ayrshire experience the lowest healthy life expectancy at 52.6 years for men and 52.5 years for women, which is around 13 and 14 years shorter for men and women respectively compared to Perth and Kinross, one of the areas with the highest healthy life expectancy.
The reasons why people are living less years in good health are complex. Health is not only shaped by the health services we receive and our behaviours, but also by our physical and social environment.
Within Scotland, there is a renewed focus on maintaining good health and reducing inequalities by preventing health conditions from developing in the first place.
The recently published Population Health Framework outlines a long-term strategy centred on improving Scotland’s health, creating a Scotland where we live longer, healthier lives by preventing illness.
It prioritises addressing overweight and obesity as an early action. This includes developing legislation to improve the food environment and making it easier and more affordable to access healthy foods.
The benefits of healthy eating, active living and maintenance of a healthy weight are widely recognised and directly associated with a wide range of health benefits.
Currently, two-thirds of adults in Scotland carry excess weight, which is a significant contributor to poor health. A key driver of this is not simply individual choices, but instead environments where healthy options are often less accessible and more expensive than less healthy options.
Reflecting on the figures, Dr Rishma Maini, Consultant in Public Health Medicine at Public Health Scotland, said:
“The recent statistics on healthy life expectancy for Scotland are deeply concerning, as it means that more people are likely to spend more years living with chronic illness, disability or being dependent on others. All this impacts greatly on the individual and the systems that support them.
“We are confident that we can tackle the root causes of ill health and build a Scotland where everyone has the opportunity to thrive by supporting the actions set out in the Population Health Framework. We all have a role to play, be it local or national government, third sector, or businesses.
“An important step we can take together is to create an environment where healthy food is available and affordable – wherever we live, work, study and socialise. By taking coordinated action to improve the health of everyone in Scotland, we can help people live longer lives in good health.”
