Obesity: introduction

Obesity is a major cause of disease and death in the population of Scotland. It has a part to play in the development of a range of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, cancers of the colon, ovary and breast, gall bladder disease, female infertility, osteoarthritis, stroke, and dementia.

It has been estimated that in 2001 the cost to the NHS of the treatment of obesity and obesity-related diseases was £171 million (Walker, 2003).  This refers to the costs of treatment only, so excludes non-treatment costs, and wider social costs.