scotPHO introduction:
  High Blood Pressure
  High Cholesterol
  Obesity
Key points
  Introduction
  Policy context
  Risk factors
  Data
  Key data sources
  Key references and evidence
  Useful links
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Obesity: key points

  • The prevalence of obesity in Scotland has continued to increase since 1995, reaching 25% in men and 27% in women in 2008.  
  • In 2008, men and women aged 55-64yrs were proportionately more likely to be obese than other age groups.
  • Between 1995 and 2008, levels of obesity have increased two-fold in men and women aged 16-24yrs
  • Obesity is linked to many diseases and conditions, and decreases life expectancy. For example,Type 2 diabetes is almost 13 times more likely to occur in obese women than in women of normal weight.
  • Scotland has some of the highest levels of obesity prevalence for men and women among OECD countries
  • It has been estimated that for the year ending March 2002, obesity and its consequences cost the NHS in Scotland approximately £171M per year.

 

 Section updates:

  • The last major update of this section was completed in December 2009.
  • The next major update is due to be carried out by end December 2010.