Researchers will spend £445,000 on smoking, drinking and overeating

Scientists have begun a search for answers as to why people start smoking, drinking and overeating.

They hope the work, a collaboration between five universities, will save lives and cut the long-term cost of healthcare in Scotland.

Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, St Andrews and Glasgow universities will study the main threats to good health in Scotland: alcohol abuse, smoking and obesity.

The project, managed by the new Scottish School of Public Health Research, will be funded for two years by a 445,000 grant from the Scottish Funding Council. The researchers want to find out why people start smoking and drinking, more about drinking culture and find ways to intervene and raise awareness of the health problems caused by smoking, drinking and overeating. They will also work on the project with NHS boards and public health officers.

Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said: "This work will mean important access to information and expertise that will be collated for the first time.

"Giving up smoking is the biggest single thing anyone can do to improve their health and we know we need to address Scotland's drinking culture.

"By finding out more information about the causes of smoking and drinking we can intervene early to prevent behaviours arising that have significant cost to individuals, families and wider society, both in terms of health and economic impacts."