Obesity indicators 2015

Key points

• In 2014, 65% of adults aged 16 and over were overweight, including 28% who were obese. Levels of overweight and obesity increased between 1995 and 2008, but have remained relatively stable since then.
• Since 1998, the proportion of children at risk of overweight (including obesity) has fluctuated between 29% and 33%. In 2014, 31% of children were at risk of overweight, including 17% at risk of obesity.
• At the end of 2014, there were 276,430 people diagnosed with diabetes in Scotland recorded on local diabetes registers. Of all cases, 88.3% (244,050) were type 2 diabetes. Prevalence of type 2 diabetes continues to increase steadily.
• Sixty three percent of adults aged 16 and over met the current moderate/vigorous physical activity (MVPA) guideline. There has been no significant change to this proportion since 2012.
• Seventy six percent of children met physical activity recommendations (including school-based activity). This is a statistically significant increase compared to 71% of children in 2008 and 2009.
• The percentage of food energy contributed by added sugars (14.5%) remains higher than the Scottish Dietary Goal of less than 11% of food energy.
• In recent years, the volume of sales of regular soft drinks has reduced, while sales of confectionery, biscuits, cakes and pastries have remained relatively unchanged.