Covid a wake-up call for the Scots diet

Leading dietitian Dr Carrie Ruxton says Scots “add risk upon risk upon risk’”amid calls for obesity levels to be tackled.

One of Scotland’s most prominent dietitians, she says the coronavirus pandemic has exposed the health risks Scots face through poor diet, heavy drinking and inactivity.

Mortality rates from the coronavirus in the UK have been among the highest in the world.

The government has been accused of not implementing lockdown fast enough and of failing to protect care home residents who account for a large proportion of the fatalities.

However, there is also evidence to suggest high levels of obesity and related conditions in Scotland and the rest of the UK could have played a role.

Dr Ruxton believes poor diet and unhealthy lifestyles put Scots at an increased risk from coronavirus.

She said: “I’m seeing a lot of people blaming the government, saying they should have shut down the country earlier, organised more PPE (protective equipment) and I do sympathise and agree, but I also think ‘what about all of us?’.

“If you look at countries where they haven’t had so many deaths, we’re looking at healthier populations, lower rates of obesity. Look at Greece, a poorer country compared with us, but they do better because they have a better diet, more sun, more outdoor and less sedentary work, so they’re less overweight.

“We have to have a real look at our weight and our diets and ask ‘what changes could I make to protect myself from health threats in the future?’”

A study of 99 countries by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found obesity is the biggest risk factor for death from coronavirus among under-50s and those aged between 50 and 64.

Covid-19 patients in England with Type 2 diabetes, which is often linked to being overweight or inactive as well as family history, account for around 31%.

In scotland, figures suggest almost one fifth of deaths were linked to diabetes, though there is not a breakdown between Types 1 (which is not preventable) and Type 2, linked to lifestyle.

Last week the charity Obesity Action Scotland said tackling the nation’s weight problem must be “central to the Scottish Government’s recovery plans”. when it comes to the pandemic.

Dr Carrie Ruxton believes poor diet and unhealthy lifestyles put Scots at an increased risk from coronavirus.