In the news: data in the UK Data Service collection across the web

Researchers looked at which exercise activities have the biggest health impact. They were surprised by the findings.

Playing racquet sports regularly could help stave off death, but football, rugby and running may not help people to live longer, a study suggests.

Cancer Research UK wants sugar-laden drinks to be treated like smoking in the battle to prevent cancer. So with a sugar tax on the horizon, is more action required? Michael Alexander reports. Walk into most supermarkets and you’ll see them. Stacks of fizzy drinks on multi-buy offers – usually not far from chiller cabinets offering bottles …

Behind the usual alarming headlines that “we’re a’ doomed” (or at least physically inactive and eating unhealthily) the latest figures from the Scottish Health Survey contained some surprising and dramatic good news.

One in four adults in Tayside smokes cigarettes — the highest rate of any health board area in Scotland. The figure was revealed in the Scottish Health Survey, which analyses different regions across the country and looks at trends and targets for health. Compiled by the Scottish Government, the survey is designed to estimate the prevalence …

The annual Scottish Health Survey revealed this week that efforts to curb many of the nation’s bad habits have stagnated.

Swimming, racquet sports and aerobics are associated with the best odds of staving off death, and in particular of reducing the risk of dying from heart disease or stroke, scientists said on Tuesday.

Research indicates regular badminton and tennis are sports most protective to health, while football and running are bottom of the table

In terms of exercise, swimming, racket sports, and aerobics seem to be associated with the best odds of staving off death from any cause and from heart disease and stroke, in particular.

Alcohol: know the risks is the theme of this year’s UK Alcohol Awareness Week.

There is a clear link between Scots who drink heavily and low personal income, writes Stephen Hinchliffe of ScotCen

More than two third of Scots gamble. For the vast majority of people, it’s a fun way to enjoy their leisure time and spend their hard earned cash as they choose.

It was a tag infamously given to the UK in the 1970s to reflect a period of economic and social challenges facing the country under the administrations of Ted Heath and Harold Wilson.

There will be no end to our poor health record until we take personal responsibility, says Stephen Jardine