Obesity hits record high and most Scots face health risk

Obesity in Scotland has reached record levels – with the increase coming at the same time as the number of people worried about running out of food also reached its highest proportion.

The latest Scottish Health Survey for 2023 found almost a third of adults (32%) were living with obesity, up from 24% in 2003 and the highest level since the survey began.

It adds that for 2022 and 2023 combined, just under two thirds of Scots (64%) were at increased health risk based on both their body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference.

Obesity is linked to a range of health problems, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, asthma and high cholesterol. Research has also shown that more than one in 20 adult cancer cases in the UK are linked to being overweight, making obesity possible. the second preventable cause of cancer.

Scotland’s chief medical officer, Professor Sir Gregor Smith, said that although research had found a “continuing decline” in the number of Scots drinking to harmful or dangerous levels, there was a “significant increase in levels of food insecurity, the highest levels”. of recorded obesity and a continued increase in vaping, particularly among young adults.”

He said “the findings presented in this report provide a crucial picture of health and wellbeing in Scotland, and how this has changed over the last two decades”.

The 2023 survey also showed that 14% of adults reported food security concerns, including not having enough to eat.

This figure rose from 9% in 2021 to the highest level since data on this was first recorded in 2017.

According to the data, young people were more likely to have experienced food insecurity than older Scots, with 20% of 16-44 year olds worried about running out of food, compared to 5% of those aged 65 and over.

Meanwhile, the 2023 survey reveals that 6% of people went without food in the last 12 months due to a lack of money – up from 3% in 2021.

Again, the problem was most severe among the 16 to 44 age group, with 8% reporting a lack of food, compared to 2% of over-65s.

While the proportion of smokers has remained stable at 15%, the use of electronic cigarettes or vapes has increased.

In total, 12% of adults used them in 2023, up from 10% the previous year – but use increased to almost a quarter (22%) among 16 to 24-year-olds.

Elsewhere, the survey found the number of Scots drinking alcohol to harmful levels fell to 20% in 2023, from 34% in 2003.

Overall, the research found that almost three-quarters (72%) of adults were in ‘good’ or ‘very good’ health – although the report said this figure was ‘at the lower end of the range” of 70% to 77%. has been registered for this since 2008.

Nearly two-fifths of adults reported having a limiting long-term health problem – affecting 43% of women and 32% of men in 2023.

Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: “This report highlights that obesity remains a significant and complex public health challenge.

“This financial year we have provided core funding of £8.25 million to health boards to deliver weight management services in line with national standards and our Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Framework .

“This is in addition to funding provided to boards for the reduction of obesity and type 2 diabetes risk through effective weight prevention and management interventions.”

The minister continued: “We recognize the pressure on household budgets, which is why we allocate around £3 billion a year to policies that tackle poverty and help people through the cost crisis. of life.

“But more needs to be done, which is why we are calling on the UK Government to provide an essential goods guarantee, which the Joseph Rowntree Foundation estimates could lift 140,000 people in Scotland out of poverty this year.

“We are committed to doing everything in our power to reduce and combat youth vaping. The recently reintroduced Tobacco and Vapes Bill prohibits vapes from being deliberately promoted and advertised to children in order to prevent the next generation from becoming addicted to nicotine.

But Labor health spokesperson Dame Jackie Baillie said: “With a record proportion of Scots living with obesity, we cannot afford a business-as-usual approach to public health. was. »

Dame Jackie called on ministers to “take a targeted and proactive approach to reaching everyone, from those in deprived areas to young people who struggle disproportionately with loneliness and mental health problems compared to women suffering from long-term illnesses.

She added: “The rise in the number of young Scots using e-cigarettes should raise alarm bells – Labor pledges to ban single-use vapes and the marketing of vapes and junk food to children.

“And, at a time when a record proportion of Scots are worried about not having enough food, we need to ensure healthy food is affordable for everyone. »