Scottish Health Survey: local area results 2014-17 combined

Summary of results for Local Authorities

Self-assessed general health

The proportion of adults who rate their general health to be good or very good
was significantly lower in North Ayrshire (67%), Glasgow City, and East Ayrshire (both 68%) than in Scotland as a whole (74%). In Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen
City (both 78%), City of Edinburgh, and Orkney Islands (both 82%) the proportion
in good or very good health was significantly higher than the estimate for Scotland.

WEMWBS

The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale ( WEMWBS) is used to measure mental wellbeing. The mean score for adults in Scotland in 2014-2017 was 49.9, - those living in North Ayrshire (48.2) and Glasgow City (48.5) had significantly lower mean scores than the Scotland estimate. Mean scores were significantly higher than the Scottish average for residents of Aberdeen City (50.7), Aberdeenshire (51.3), and Na h-Eileanan Siar (51.0).

General Health Questionnaire ( GHQ-12) scores

The General Health Questionnaire ( GHQ-12) is used to identify individuals showing signs of the presence of a possible psychiatric disorder (as indicated by scores of four or higher). The proportion of adults with scores of 4+ was significantly lower in Aberdeenshire (10%) and Shetland Islands (12%) than the proportion in Scotland as a whole (16%). The proportion of adults with scores of 4+ in Glasgow City (21%) was significantly higher than in Scotland as a whole. In Scotland overall, significantly more women than men had a score of 4+ (17% compared to 14%).

Long-term conditions

A significantly lower proportion of adults in City of Edinburgh (23%), Aberdeen City (26%), and Aberdeenshire (27%) reported a limiting condition compared to Scotland overall (32%), while this proportion was significantly higher in North Ayrshire (44%), East Ayrshire (46%), and South Ayrshire (51%). A significantly higher proportion of Scottish women (34%) than men (30%) reported a long-term condition that limited their daily activities in some way.

Alcohol consumption

In the period 2014-2017, the proportion of adults who exceeded government guidelines on weekly alcohol consumption ^[4] was significantly lower than the national average (25%) in Na h-Eileanan Siar (20%) and Aberdeenshire (21%). In City of Edinburgh (32%) and North Ayrshire (30%) a significantly higher proportion of adults exceeded weekly guidelines than across Scotland as a whole. In all local authorities in which results were available, a significantly higher proportion of men than women exceeded the guidelines.

Residents of Scottish Borders (10.1) and Aberdeenshire (10.8) reported a significantly lower mean number of units of alcohol consumed by drinkers on a weekly basis than the Scottish mean (12.7). City of Edinburgh (14.6), Aberdeen City (15.1) and North Ayrshire (16.2) were significantly higher than the Scotland mean. Male drinkers reported significantly higher weekly mean units than their female counterparts in every local authority for which there were results available.

Smoking

An estimated 21% of adults were regular smokers between 2014 and 2017, with prevalence significantly higher among men than women (22% of men, 19% of women). The proportion of regular smokers was significantly lower than the Scotland average in South Lanarkshire (16%), Aberdeenshire, and City of Edinburgh (both 17%). Glasgow City (28%) and North Ayrshire (25%) were both significantly higher than the Scotland figure.

Overweight (including obesity) ^[5]

In Scotland, 65% of individuals were overweight or obese between 2014 and 2017, with the figure for men (68%) significantly higher than that for women (62%). Results for a number of boards were significantly different to the Scotland figure. These included lower results for Glasgow City (61%) and City of Edinburgh (51%), and higher results for Aberdeenshire (69%), East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire (all 72%), Na h-Eileanan Siar, and Orkney Islands (both 73%).

Obesity ^[6]

In 2014-2017, obesity rates were significantly lower in City of Edinburgh (19%) compared to the Scottish average (29%). The rates for adults in Aberdeenshire, Fife (both 32%), North Ayrshire (33%), Na h-Eileanan Siar (34%), North Lanarkshire (35%), East Ayrshire (36%), and Shetland Islands (37%) were significantly higher than for Scotland overall. At Scotland level, the obesity rate for women (30%) was significantly higher than the rate for men (28%).

Fruit and vegetable consumption

The proportion of adults consuming the recommended five portions (or more) of fruit and vegetables per day was significantly lower than across Scotland as a whole (21%) among East Ayrshire (16%), North Ayrshire, and North Lanarkshire (both 14%). The proportion in City of Edinburgh (32%) was significantly higher than the Scotland figure. At Scotland level, the proportion consuming the recommended five portions (or more) was significantly higher for women (22%) than men (20%).

The mean portions of fruit and vegetables consumed per day in North Ayrshire (2.6), East Ayrshire, and North Lanarkshire (both 2.7) was significantly lower than the Scottish mean (3.2 portions). The number was significantly higher in City of Edinburgh (3.9) compared to the national average, while at Scotland level women consumed significantly more portions (3.3) compared to men (3.0).

Physical activity

In 2014-2017, the lowest proportion of adults meeting the physical activity guidelines was observed in East Ayrshire (56%), and North Lanarkshire (58%), all of which were significantly lower than the proportion for Scotland (64%). The proportion in City of Edinburgh was significantly higher at 73%. Men in Scotland were significantly more likely to meet the guidelines (68%) than women (59%).

Cardiovascular ( CVD) conditions

The proportion of individuals reporting a doctor-diagnosed CVD condition was significantly higher than the Scottish average of 15% in Fife (18%), East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire (both 20%), and North Ayrshire (21%). The rate was significantly lower than the Scottish average in City of Edinburgh (11%) and Shetland Islands (13%). At Scotland level, men were significantly more likely to have a CVD condition (17%) than women (15%).