Obesity: mortality data

Specific mortality data related to obesity in Scotland is not currently available. Obesity is a known risk factor for a range of chronic diseases but is not usually recorded as an underlying cause of death. Epidemiological studies have shown an increase in mortality associated with overweight and obesity. An analysis of the Renfrew/Paisly data from the Midspan prospective cohort study found only a weak to modest association between obesity and mortality however when analysis was restricted to non-smokers, obesity was associated with a doubling of risk in men and a 60% increase in women: (relative risk for all cause mortality from obesity was 2.10 for men (95% confidence intervals, 1.66 to 2.66) and 1.56 (1.39 to 1.76) for women (Lawlor et al 2006). For further information on obesity and mortality see chapter 8 of Obesity in Scotland: an epidemiology briefing.