Fergus Millan
Health Improvement Strategy Division
Background
• In common with most of the developed
world, Scotland is experiencing the obesity
epidemic.
• Scotland has one of the highest levels of
obesity in OECD countries.
• In 2008, 27% of adults in Scotland were
obese and 65% were overweight; for
children the corresponding rates were
15% and 32%.
Impact
• Attainment of the Government’s purpose
of a flourishing economy requires a
healthy population.
• The levels of overweight and obesity pose
real risks to the health of the population in
Scotland and our ability to meet the
purpose of sustainable economic growth
Economic Cost to Scotland
(in 07/08 prices)
• In 2007/08 – adult obesity was – 26%
– Cost to NHS £175m
– Cost to society >£457m
• By 2030 - adult obesity to be - 41%.
– Cost to the NHS - £312m.
– Cost to society ~£3 billion.
• Much of this cost is avoidable.
Changing Society
• Obesity cannot be viewed simply as a health
issue, nor will it be solved by reliance on
individual behaviour change.
• A successful approach will require collaboration
across policies and sectors and investment to
make deep, sustainable changes to our living
environment in order to shift it from one that
promotes weight gain to one that supports
healthy weight for all.
The Players
• The Scottish Government and COSLA are
equal partners in the development and
delivery of this Route Map.
• The policy direction set out is aimed at
decision-makers from a wide range of
partners to develop and lead the long-term
solutions to this problem.
• Those responsible for delivery.
What we will do
• The Route Map groups the preventative actions we need
to take over the next 20 years under the following four
areas:
– Energy consumption – controlling exposure to, demand for and
consumption of excessive quantities of high calorific foods and
drinks
– Energy expenditure – increasing opportunities for and uptake
of walking, cycling and other physical activity in our daily lives
and minimising sedentary behaviour
– Early years – establishing life-long habits and skills for positive
health behaviour through early life interventions
– Working lives – increasing responsibility of organisations for the
health and wellbeing of their employees
Next Steps
• Scottish Public Health Network events held in
May to allow stakeholders from all sectors an
opportunity to be involved in helping shape
action plan.
• Over 140 participants drawn from private, public
and voluntary sector and included
– 38 participants (from 22 LAs),
– 48 participants (from 14 HBs/CHPs)
– remainder from academia, industry, government and
voluntary sector.
Results of Workshop
Im pact
Route map actions with greatest levels of
agreement over placement on sorting diagram
• Support r efor mulati on of f ood
• Wor k with producers to reduc e
portion size
High
• Use statut ory means where
vol unt ary meas ures f ail
• Use social mar keting to enc ourage
physical ac tivit y
Medium
• Expand acti ve schools etc
• Saf er more acc essible c ycl e
routes
• Train health prof essionals in maternal
and infant nutrition
Low
• Ensur e obesit y prevention in
SCHWL Strateg y
• Public s ector employers register f or
Healthy Livi ng Awards
• Publicise c ycl e and wal k r out es
Low
Medium
High
Effort
Joint Obesity Group
• Chaired by Deputy First Minister
• Cosla’s Health Spokesperson
• Includes other Ministers, representatives
of the food and drink industry, Transport
Scotland, Chief Planner, NHS Chair and
LA CE.
– Agree an action plan with key milestones
– Agree suite of indicators to monitor progress
– Communications and Research strategies
Scale of Change
• Delivering policy responses goes far beyond
individual initiatives. It will require systemic and
far-reaching change in infrastructure,
environments, culture and social norms over the
next 20 years.
• The combined effect of these actions will impact
on the level of obesity in society, however, we
cannot yet predict accurately the contribution of
each element or precisely how much we need to
invest in each area.
Progress?
Fergus Millan
Health Improvement Strategy Division