Obesity indicators 2018

Key points

• In 2017, 65% of adults aged 16 and over were overweight, including 29% who were obese. Levels of overweight and obesity for adults aged 16-64 increased between 1995 and 2008, but have remained broadly stable since then.
• Since 1998, the proportion of children aged 2-15 at risk of overweight (including obesity) has fluctuated between 26% and 33%. In 2017, 26% of children were at risk of overweight, including 13% at risk of obesity.
• At the end of 2016, there were 291,981 people diagnosed with diabetes in Scotland recorded on local diabetes registers. Of all cases, 88.3% (257,728) were Type 2 diabetes. Prevalence of Type 2 diabetes continues to increase steadily.
• In 2017, 65% 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.
• In 2017, 67% of children aged 2-15 had participated in sport in the week prior to interview, similar to 2016 (68%).
• In 2015, the percentage of food energy contributed by free sugars (14.4%) remained higher than the Scottish Dietary Goal of less than 5% of energy.
• Between 2010 and 2017, the volume of sales of regular take home soft drinks reduced, while sales of cakes and pastries have increased since 2011. Sales of take home biscuits and confectionery remained stable.

About this publication

This publication reports the latest results against the obesity indicator framework originally developed to monitor progress against the Scottish Government's Prevention of Obesity Route Map^[1] published in February 2010. The Route Map has now been overtaken by the Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan and Active Scotland Delivery Plan published in summer 2018. We are establishing new monitoring and evaluating arrangements for these plans, including reviewing the future of this publication.

This is a compendium publication bringing together data mostly already published by various other sources.

Data are also available in the accompanying tables.