Adult Prevalence, Causes and Impact

Obesity, understood as the accumulation of excess body fat, occurs when energy intake from food and drink is greater than the body’s energy requirements over a prolonged period. An obesogenic environment is one that promotes weight gain and acts on individual physiology and psychology, influencing individual lifestyles.

In Scotland, two out of every three adults now has overweight or obesity. Our briefing and factsheet provide detailed information on prevalence, the wider causes of obesity and how it contributes to a number of health risks.