Obesity costs Scots £457m a year

Published on Saturday 20 February 2010 19:30

EXPERTS estimate that Scotland's obesity epidemic is currently costing the Scottish taxpayer £457 million per year and is directly responsible for 3,400 deaths.

An official report published tomorrow claims the overall cost of obesity to taxpayers will rise to 3 billion per year in two decades' time unless urgent action is taken to tackle Scotland's weight problem.

The strain being exerted on the public purse by overweight Scots was identified by academics who claim Scotland is sitting on an "obesity time bomb".

Their report sets out the scale of the obesity epidemic and identifies areas for action to tackle the crisis.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "Scotland is in the grip of an obesity epidemic. Obesity currently costs Scotland over 450m a year. If we do not address this now it is estimated that this figure could balloon to over 3bn a year – a cost so large it will directly impact on our ability to achieve sustainable economic growth

"We have estimated nearly 3,400 people die as a direct result of obesity every year and this is set to increase. It is shocking to realise that all of this is preventable and with small steps people can begin to control their weight. We need to take action now before it is too late."

Annie Anderson, professor of Food Choice and director of the Centre for Public Nutrition Research at Dundee University, said work had to be done to encourage the food industry to serve smaller portions.

"The food and drink industry is a major contributor to our economy in a very positive way, but a lot of that money is drained out by the cost to the NHS of obesity," she said.

"This sort of data shows us that we have to make the link between encouraging the food and drink industry to grow and making sure we minimise the risk of obesity growing.

"There are a lot of bakers and confectioners in Scotland and we have to work harder to diversify. We have seen healthier foods in terms of vitamins and fish oils, but we must work together for smaller portions."