Diet and nutrition: introduction
Good nutrition throughout life is essential to good health. Eating a healthy diet can help reduce the risk of obesity, coronary heart disease, stroke, some cancers, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis and tooth decay (WHO/FAO, 2003).
Poor diet and nutrition is a major 'downstream' cause of ill-health, chronic disease, and premature death in Scotland. A healthier diet with a higher proportion of fruit and vegetables can substantially reduce the risk of many chronic diseases (WHO/FAO, 2003). Such diseases include the two leading causes of death in Scotland - coronary heart disease (CHD) and cancer. Poor diet has been linked to several forms of cancer (World Cancer Research Fund). Increasing consumption of fruit and vegetables can significantly reduce the risk of many chronic diseases.
The influence of diet and nutrition on health and wellbeing begins pre-conception, with maternal diet being found to play a role in health in later life (The influence of maternal, fetal and child nutrition on the development of chronic disease in later life, SACN 2011) (3.50MB). In childhood and young adulthood, healthy eating is vital to brain and body development and the formation of eating habits in early years is important. There are growing concerns about poor nutrition and diet among children and young people, including increased consumption of foods high in saturated fats, added sugar, NMES (non-milk extrinsic sugar) and salt. An associated issue is the rising level of overweight and obesity among children and later as adults (see the obesity section for further information). Scotland's children also have one of the worst records of dental decay in the western world - for more information see the oral health section of this website.
In 2019, 9% of adults in Scotland reported having experienced food insecurity in terms of worrying that they would run out of food due to lack of money or resources during the previous 12 months, the same proportion as in 2018 (SHeS, 2019). For advice and information about healthy eating see:
