Scotland's obesity problem: four women who have beaten the bulge

And the cost to Scottish society of obesity is thought to be more than 457 million – much of which could be avoidable. More than 175m of that is a direct cost to the NHS – equivalent to 2 per cent of NHS Scotland's revenue budget. But the effect of obesity is thought to be a much greater cost to society as a whole, as it's been shown to adversely affect employment, productivity levels at work and mental wellbeing. The numbers of people with extreme obesity are increasing with knock-on effects to housing, transport and social support networks.

It's estimated that direct NHS Scotland costs of obesity will almost double by 2030 – with the cost to Scottish society of up to 3 billion when four in ten Scots are likely to be obese.

Obesity is the medical term for people who have excess body fat due to consuming more food and drink – including alcohol – than their body needs.

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is commonly used, measuring height against weight to calculate obesity. A BMI greater than 30 indicates obesity, with a BMI between 25 and 30 as being overweight in adults.

One in four Scots adults and 15 per cent of children is obese – putting themselves at risk of various health problems, ranging from heart disease and hypertension to type 2 diabetes, some cancers and premature death. In fact obesity claims an average of nine lives a day.

Public health minister Shona Robison says: "Obesity is a huge threat to Scotland's future and we are committed to tackling this. No country in the world has successfully addressed obesity – and we want Scotland to be the first.

"We cannot expect people to be able to change their behaviour alone as the environment we live in today means that for most people weight gain becomes almost inevitable. Excellent work is already underway but we have to go further and make serious changes that will transform our entire living environment."

Plans are underway to work with retailers, producers and the food industry to control exposure to, demand for and consumption of high-calorie foods and drinks.

It's also planned to increase opportunities for walking, cycling and other physical activity as well as working with schools and businesses to encourage healthy eating habits.

Weight loss organisation Scottish Slimmers has been working with the Scottish Government, the NHS and health boards to address the problem – and with 30 years' experience has had substantial success. In 2010 their members lost a staggering 40,000 stones between them.

Alexandra Howie, Scottish Slimmers' marketing director, says: "Scottish Slimmers works because we have a realistic approach, we don't preach to people, and rather than just dieting we also concentrate on changing people's lives and lifestyles.

"We offer lifelong support and the motivation for people to lose the weight, and our lifetime members are the perfect example of our success."

January is traditionally the time of year when many people attempt to tackle weight problems. But even if they lose weight, many can find it difficult to maintain their slimline shape and some pile the pounds back on. But Scottish Slimmers recently honoured a group of lifetime members at the organisation's Slimmer of the Year 2010 for showing how it is possible to lose weight and then keep it off. We talk to four of the group's lifetime winners. Between them, they've lost more than 16 stones and stayed slim for a total of 66 years.

Susan Hunter

Weight Loss: 6 stone

Slim: 19 years

SUSAN HUNTER shed six stone and landed a new career as an ambulance care assistant. Susan, 42, from North Berwick, joined in January 1991 with her sister Moira and got to her target in 1992.

She weighed 19 stone and dropped to 13 stone, going down from a size 24 to a 12/14.

"I'd been a plump teenager but because I'm so tall at 6ft 2ins I wasn't bullied badly. But I had no confidence, was unhappy and hated being overweight," she explained.

"My mum was quite a big lady and I didn't want to end up the same size. She'd cook fry ups and fish and chips, so when I joined Scottish Slimmers I started cooking my own healthier food."

Susan lives with her two daughters, Lily, seven, and Zoe, three, and partner Bob Thornton, 39, a bricklayer.

"I did pile on the pounds with my first child and then I couldn't lose the extra weight afterwards. I had to change my eating habits and I started taking my coffee black so I could cut out the milk.

"Losing weight gave my confidence a real boost and I felt like a different person. Some people didn't even recognise me."

And after losing the weight she was accepted in the ambulance service. "I'm a former nurse and I love driving. I don't think I'd have had the energy to do the job when I was overweight.

"Because I work shifts I have to make up a meal to heat up while some of my work colleagues are eating takeaways or fish and chips.

"But I couldn't go back to being overweight – it was horrible. I want to stay healthy. I go to Scottish Slimmers meetings when I can or I download information from their website or I speak to a class manager on the phone. They're really supportive."

Marie McNab

Weight loss: 4 stone 13.5lbs

Slim: 13 years

MARIE MCNAB was horrified when her doctor told her in front of a waiting room full of patients that if she didn't lose weight she'd end up in a wheelchair.

The housewife from Irvine, Ayrshire, who's now 55, said: "I was embarrassed and shocked – but it was the push I needed. I think he actually did me a favour.

"I'd been eating too much of the wrong types of food. I enjoyed a glass of wine at night and I loved cheese and also chocolate."

Marie's son Gordon, now 25, had just started secondary school and she didn't want him to be embarrassed by having a fat mum, so she joined Scottish Slimmers and went from a size 22 to a size 10/12 in just ten months, hitting her target in 1997.

She'd suffered problems with osteoporosis in her spine due to being born with a club foot – and being overweight was making her condition worse.

Marie walked back into the surgery ten months later and her doctor didn't even recognise her after she'd lost almost five stone – dropping from 14 stone 10lbs to 9 stone 10.5lbs.

"I started cooking proper meals, opting for low-fat options and I love vegetables now. But I still have chocolate. I wish I'd done it a long time ago."

Husband Alex, 59, a building director, supported Marie. "He knew I was depressed about my weight but never told me I was overweight.

"Scottish Slimmers is life-changing – it's not just a diet, it's a healthy-eating plan. I still go to meetings to be weighed but I'll never weigh myself at home as your weight can fluctuate and scales can give different results. I still write down everything I eat."

Marie's son is now an officer in the RAF and is getting married soon. "I am looking forward to being a glamorous mother-of-the-groom. I want him to be as proud of me as I am of him," she says.

Linda McLaughlan

Weight Loss: 3 stone

Slim: 16 years

LINDA MCLAUGHLAN was so confident after slimming from a size 16 to a 12 that she stripped off for a charity calendar.

"It was still quite daunting but it's not something I'd ever have considered if I'd not lost the weight," she said.

Linda, 56, a receptionist from Glasgow joined her local slimming group and dropped from 11 stone, 12lbs to 8 stone 12lbs – shedding 3 stone.

Linda was prompted to lose weight after second husband John, 65, proposed in 1993.

She hit her target weight before marrying in 1994 – and has stayed slim.

"There was no way I was going to be fat for my wedding," she explained. "And I didn't want to be fat at 40."

"I'd been eating all the wrong things and too many sweets. Now it's completely different. Scottish Slimmers isn't a diet, it's changing your life to healthy eating.

"I still have days where I have a blow-out – but then I get back on track. Before, I used to have chips with everything, but now I'll have salad and vegetables. I go to Zumba classes a couple of times a week, and walk three times a week – a three-mile round trip with a friend."

Seven years ago her husband was diagnosed with a tumour growing into his brain and had to undergo radiotherapy and then an operation. He's made a complete recovery and has since fundraised for Cancer Support.

"He just wanted to give something back after the help he received," explained Linda. Then John persuaded Linda and her two daughters Michelle, 34, and Nadine, 31, to strip off for a 2010 charity calendar.

Linda still goes to slimming meetings to keep herself on track. "The meetings are free when you hit your target weight and you're allowed an extra half a stone over your target before you have to start paying again."

Ann Park

Weight loss: 2 stone 4.5lbs

Slim: 18 years

SHOP assistant Ann Park says she'd battled being plump for years – before finally deciding to take action to lose weight. The mum-of-two from Aberdeen admitted she'd finish off the kids' dinners and work her way through a packet of biscuits over a day or two. "Then when I was preparing meals I'd make a sandwich or cut myself a slice of cheese – sometimes eating as much as a meal – but have it as a snack," she explained. After having children, Darren, now 24 and Erin, 22, she realised she needed to do something about her weight.

"I felt huge and needed help to get my figure back. And Scottish Slimmers has been helping me keep the weight off ever since."

The 50-year-old joined the weightloss group in 1990 and 18 months later dropped from a size 16 to a 10/12, going from 12 stone, 5.5lbs to 10 stone, 1lb. And since 1992 she's continued to attend its meetings to keep in trim.

"I found losing the weight easy – but keeping it off has been harder," she said. "But I'm determined not to put the weight back on.

"Initially I was quite strict with myself but now I'm much more relaxed about what I can eat. And if I want a glass of wine I'll have it – but I'll just include it in my calculated daily allowance of 'checks'.

"I don't deny myself anything, but I want to eat healthier meals now, like chicken with potatoes and vegetables rather than the fattier meals I ate when I was younger.

"I think if you've ever had a problem with weight then you'll always have to watch what you eat. I know this is just something I have to do and it's still hard sometimes."

• For information on your nearest class, telephone 0800 36 26 36 or visit www.scottishslimmers.com