William Eichler 23 January 2017

Scotland has ‘worst weight outcomes’ in UK, MSPs say

Scotland has the worst weight outcomes of all the UK nations because of an ‘inconsistent’ approach to policies designed to tackle obesity, MSPs warn.

Holyrood’s health and sport committee found Scotland had a good policy framework for fighting obesity, but needed a more consistent approach to implementing and resourcing it.

In a letter to Aileen Campbell, minister for public health and sport, the committee said there should be a joined up policy approach with consideration given from other areas such as education, local government and transport.

The health committee also found 40% of food in the UK is bought on promotion and this is usually junk food. They called for more regulation of the industry and more incentives to promote healthy food.

Furthermore, the committee discovered the gap is widening between the least and most deprived when it comes to obesity because – among other factors - those on low incomes prioritise calories over nutrients and those on high incomes respond better to health messages.

Many adults (40%) were not meeting physical activity guidelines and only 2% of the transport budget was spent on walking and cycling, they said.

‘We all know obesity is one of the biggest issues impacting on the health of people in Scotland and particularly those living in more deprived areas,’ said committee convenor Neil Findlay.

'The threat and impact caused by obesity is nothing new.

‘However, it is disappointing that whilst the Government has good policies in place to try and tackle this issue, they don’t seem to be working and there was an inconsistent approach to resourcing these policies.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Chief Executive

Ebbsfleet Development Corporation
up to £165,000
Ebbsfleet is one of the UK’s most ambitious regeneration projects, a 21st-century Garden City Ebbsfleet, Kent
Recuriter: Ebbsfleet Development Corporation

Virtual School Inclusion Support Officer

Essex County Council
£32768.0000 - £38550.0000 per annum
Virtual School Inclusion Support OfficerPermanent, Term Time£32,768 to £38,550 per annum (full time equivalent)Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Business Development Officer

Essex County Council
£36341.0000 - £42754.0000 per annum
Senior Business Development Officer - Integrated Passenger Transport UnitFixed Term, Full Time£36,341 to £42,754 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Adults Social Worker - Neighbourhood Team

Essex County Council
£37185 - £50081 per annum + Flexible Working, Hybrid Working
Interview dates
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Investment Marketing and Web Officer CDC

City Of Doncaster Council
Grade 8, £33,708 - £37,399
The postholder should be experienced in planning social media activity, refreshing web content and analysing their impact. Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recuriter: City Of Doncaster Council
Linkedin Banner