The Scottish Health Survey 2023 - volume 1: main report

Foreword from Chief Medical Officer

The 2023 Scottish Health Survey results presented in this report provide a crucial picture of health and wellbeing in Scotland and how this has changed over the past two decades.

The report provides valuable information on the prevalence of health conditions and on health related risk factors including smoking, alcohol consumption, drug use, diet, food insecurity, physical activity and obesity.

Following a transition back to the usual approach of survey interviewing in 2022 as the protective measures necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic were eased, the 2023 survey returned more fully to interviews taking place within the home. This means we can be confident that the results can be compared to the pre-pandemic years.

This report of the 2023 results evidences a continued decline in the prevalence of hazardous/harmful drinking and an improvement in average mental wellbeing following two years of decline. However, we see a significant increase in levels of food insecurity, the highest levels of obesity recorded and a continued rise in vaping, particularly amongst younger adults.

I welcome this report which is invaluable in informing the development, evaluation and monitoring of population health in Scotland and would like to thank the consortium led by the Scottish Centre for Social Research for conducting the survey. Most importantly, my thanks go to the 7,133 people who gave their time to take part in this important research.

Professor Sir Gregor Smith

Chief Medical Officer for Scotland