Scottish government tackle obesity through public sector catering

22nd February 2010, 11:07am

The Scottish government has announced a string of plans aimed at tackling the country's “obesity time bomb”, which it estimates costs Scotland up to £3 billion a year.

The 'Preventing Overweight and Obesity' document warns that if action is not taken, by 2030 nearly four in ten Scots will be obese.

Ambitious plans include:

• Working with schools to continue encouraging young people to take up healthy habits

• Working with businesses to encourage their employees to eat healthily and be more active

• Working with retailers, producers and the food industry to control exposure to, demand for and consumption of high calorie foods and drinks

• Using planning legislation to increase opportunities for walking, cycling and other physical activity in our daily lives

Public Health Minister Shona Robison said: "No country in the world has successfully addressed obesity - and we want Scotland to be the first. Obesity currently costs Scotland over £457 million a year. If we do not address this epidemic now it is estimated that this figure could reach over £3 billion a year.

"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.

"We plan to work across all areas of Government to ensure that policies are directed at supporting people to achieve and then maintain a healthy weight."

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