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| Bid to tackle 'obesity time bomb' | |
| (1 day later) | |
| The Scottish government is to announce details of its new strategy to tackle obesity. | |
| The move comes in the wake of a report which said the country was "sitting on an obesity time bomb" which could cost the economy £3bn a year. | |
| It said cases of obesity could double, with 40% of Scots classed as obese by 2030, if things do not change. | |
| Public Health Minister Shona Robison will launch the strategy at a school in Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, later. | |
| Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said Scotland was "in the grip of an obesity epidemic". | Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said Scotland was "in the grip of an obesity epidemic". |
| Currently, an estimated 3,400 people die as a direct result of obesity every year and deaths are predicted to rise. | Currently, an estimated 3,400 people die as a direct result of obesity every year and deaths are predicted to rise. |
| The government report also highlighted the costs of dealing with Scotland's weight problem. | |
| It said by 2030 the cost of obesity will jump from an estimated £457m to £3bn a year. | It said by 2030 the cost of obesity will jump from an estimated £457m to £3bn a year. |
| This is not simply a health issue, nor can we expect individuals to change behaviour entirely on their own Nicola Sturgeon MSP Health Secretary | This is not simply a health issue, nor can we expect individuals to change behaviour entirely on their own Nicola Sturgeon MSP Health Secretary |
| The cost of treating conditions linked to obesity, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, is currently estimated at £175m - the equivalent of 2% of NHS Scotland's entire revenue budget. | The cost of treating conditions linked to obesity, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, is currently estimated at £175m - the equivalent of 2% of NHS Scotland's entire revenue budget. |
| Indirect costs, such as sickness absence, are estimated at £282m to the taxpayer. | Indirect costs, such as sickness absence, are estimated at £282m to the taxpayer. |
| Ms Sturgeon said the £3bn-a-year figure would "directly impact on our nation's ability to achieve sustainable economic growth". | Ms Sturgeon said the £3bn-a-year figure would "directly impact on our nation's ability to achieve sustainable economic growth". |
| She said that the current NHS spend on treating obesity could "make a vital difference to other areas of the health service". | She said that the current NHS spend on treating obesity could "make a vital difference to other areas of the health service". |
| Ms Sturgeon added: "Initiatives are already under way to help prevent obesity but we need to do much more. | Ms Sturgeon added: "Initiatives are already under way to help prevent obesity but we need to do much more. |
| "This is not simply a health issue, nor can we expect individuals to change behaviour entirely on their own. | "This is not simply a health issue, nor can we expect individuals to change behaviour entirely on their own. |
| "The solution lies in changing our entire environment from one that promotes weight gain to one that supports healthy choices." | "The solution lies in changing our entire environment from one that promotes weight gain to one that supports healthy choices." |
| Ms Robison will launch the strategy document, "Preventing Overweight and Obesity in Scotland - A Route Map Towards Healthy Weight", during a visit to St Mark's Primary School in Barrhead. |