More Scots opting to go under knife to win battle of the bulge

Published on Tuesday 9 June 2009 22:04

A DRAMATIC increase in Scots turning to fat-busting surgery has reopened a debate on the problem of obesity north of the Border.

According to new figures, the number of Scots having gastric bypass operations to get rid of their fat rose by 700 per cent in the last four years.

The procedure is much more intrusive and severe than the more common gastric band operation and recovery time takes twice as long.

In 2004-5 just 22 people north of the Border had this surgery, but by 2008-9 this had shot up to 178.

The statistics, revealed in a parliamentary written answer to Liberal Democrat health spokesman Ross Finnie, come shortly after similar figures emerged showing an increase in the use of diet pills. In the ten years from 1998-99 to 2008-9 the number of obesity-related prescriptions rose 25 times to 110,000.

Mr Finnie claimed that the surgical figures were further evidence that the Scottish Government's strategy on tackling childhood obesity is failing.

He highlighted a failure to introduce a minimum of two hours of PE in schools, despite the SNP promising it in their 2007 election manifesto. He also wanted a strategy to improve the diet of young people.

Mr Finnie said: "Our figures show a shocking increase in the number of Scots turning to radical fat-busting surgery.

"Scotland's battle with the bulge is well known, but these figures make for alarming reading. If patients are assessed as needing this radical surgery then it should be available. But we need to be sure that these operations are a last resort and that patients have tried to lose weight by changing their eating and exercise patterns."

He added: "These figures are a warning shot across the SNP's bows. Unless ministers want to see the number of Scots seeking surgery get even higher, the Scottish Government must tackle the ticking time bomb of childhood obesity."

However, the SNP pointed out that the problems of obesity were not tackled effectively by the previous Labour-Liberal Democrat Scottish Executive when the rise in radical gastric surgery began.

And the Scottish Government pointed out that surgery for obesity is still rare, insisting that it is always based on the patient's needs.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "We have made it a national priority to turn the tables on obesity by supporting everyone, especially kids, to be more active and eat healthier.

"Initiatives in schools include free school meals and healthy cooking lessons as well as popular physical activities to get kids excited about being more active."

However, the Conservatives suggested that the rise in surgery was caused because people cannot get access to proper advice.

Health spokeswoman Mary Scanlon pointed out that NHS Grampian received approximately 1,000 referrals to the obesity services each year, with only about 20 patients being surgically treated.

"Despite the Scottish Government's Action Plan for Obesity, many people across Scotland are unable to access the advice and support they need in their community and are having to resort to major surgery for their condition," she said.