| The ‘fat map’, created by Dr Foster Research and sponsored by Roche, which manufactures an anti-obesity drug, revealed over 8% of people registered with GPs in Tayside are classed as obese.
The figures put Tayside in the top 40% of the worst performing local health authority areas in the UK and suggested obesity was even higher in rural island areas like Shetland (which topped the list) Orkney and the Western Isles.
It also warned that Scotland is on the brink of an obesity epidemic — with 65% of men and 60% of women overweight and over a fifth of the population obese.
The map and accompanying research report were compiled using data from the NHS Quality and Outcomes Framework for 2006/2007 — which included a register of all patients aged over 16 with a Body Mass Index of over 30.
Surprisingly, parts of Scotland that are traditionally seen as obesity hot spots, including Glasgow, fared far better in the league table.
Critics of the research say obese patients in large urban areas are less likely to visit their GP — resulting in artificially low statistics from doctors in those regions.
Earlier this year, the Scottish Government launched a £40 million initiative to tackle health problems by 2010, with £15million directly targeted at combating rising obesity levels.
Counterweight, an adult obesity management programme, was also piloted in a number of areas, including Tayside, with positive results.
The scheme took a range of approaches, from lifestyle interventions to drug prescription and referral to dieticians and psychologists, with over 40% of patients losing more than 5% of their body weight.
Experts from Dundee University have also been involved.
Professor Annie Anderson, of the University’s Centre for Public Health Nutrition Research, chaired the research group.
She said obesity was a “multi-faceted problem, which needed a multi-faceted response” and said only by recognising the number of factors involved could we start to win the battle.
Obesity poses a major risk for Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, stroke and some cancers.
Joyce Thompson, dietetic consultant in public health nutrition at NHS Tayside, said, “Through our Healthy Weight Strategy we help overweight people to lose weight in their communities and aim to prevent others becoming overweight. The strategy was developed after consultation with local people and experts and is all about providing help where it is most needed.
“Across Tayside we have initiatives promoting healthy eating and encourage people to become more active.
“These include free weight management classes, which can be tailored to individual needs, healthy eating cooking clubs and walking groups.” |
