WIREDGOV

An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland

In 2013, around two thirds (65 per cent) of adults (aged 16+) in Scotland were overweight, including 27 per cent who were obese. Adult overweight and obesity levels have not changed significantly since 2008 but have increased over the longer term.

Scotland’s Chief Statistician yesterday released Obesity Indicators statistics. The publication reports the latest figures for 16 indicators, selected to monitor progress of the Scottish Government’s Prevention of Obesity Route Map.

The proportion of adults who were overweight or obese increased between 1995 and 2008 but has remained stable since then. In 1995, 52 per cent of adults aged 16-64 were overweight, including obese. For people aged 16-64 this increased to 63 per cent by 2008 and has remained at around that level (63 per cent in 2013).

The proportion of children (aged 2-15) at risk of overweight or obesity has been more stable over the long term, with 29 per cent at risk of overweight including 16 per cent at risk of obesity in 2013. The equivalent figures in 1998 were 29 per cent and 14 per cent.

The proportion of adults who were physically active at the recommended level increased from 62 per cent in 2012 to 64 per cent in 2013. More men (71 per cent) than women (58 per cent) met the physical activity guideline.

There was a statistically significant increase in the proportion of children meeting the physical activity guideline, from 71 per cent in 2008 and 2009 to 75 per cent in 2013. More boys than girls met the guideline, with the gap greatest between ages 13 and 15 (68 per cent of boys and 51 per cent of girls aged 13-15 met the guideline).

In 2013, adults reported sitting in their leisure time for a mean of 5.3 hours on weekdays and 6.1 hours on weekend days. One in eight children (13 per cent of boys; 10 per cent of girls) spent more than four hours on an average day in 2013 sitting watching a television or other screen.

There has been little change since 2000 in the proportion of adults (15 per cent) and children (53 per cent) engaging in active travel to work and school.

Prevalence of type 2 diabetes continues to increase. At the end of 2013, there were 268,154 people diagnosed with diabetes, 5 per cent of the population; 88 per cent of all cases were type 2 diabetes.

Since 2010, sales of regular soft drinks have decreased by 8.6 per cent (190 million litres in 2013).

The figures released yesterday were produced in accordance with professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

Background

The full statistical publication is available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/Recent

This is the fifth time the indicators have been published. The data for most have been updated to include 2013, although some are more or less recent than this. Many of the indicators presented have already been published by other sources. However, indicators on obesity, physical activity and sedentary time are sourced from the Scottish Health Survey which was also released on 2 December.

Further information on the Scottish Health Survey (including the latest report released on 2 December 2014) is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Health/scottish-health-survey

The Scottish Government’s Prevention of Obesity Route Map is available at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/02/17140721/19

Official statistics are produced in accordance with professional standards. More information on the standards of official statistics in Scotland can be accessed at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/About