Expectant mums in Dundee fare badly

Fewer than one-third of women in city are of healthy weight

One in five pregnant women in Dundee smokes, new figures show.

The Births at Scottish Hospitals report also reveals that fewer than a third of expectant mums in the city are a healthy weight – which is the worst in the country.

A cancer charity said the NHS Scotland figures for 2017-18 are “deeply concerning” and called for legal restrictions on multi-buy deals for junk food and more cash to help people quit cigarettes.

In Dundee, 21.2% of women revealed they were smokers at their first antenatal booking appointment, which normally takes place within the first three months of pregnancy. That compares with 18.7% in both Angus and Fife, and 16.2% in Perth and Kinross.

Ministers said smoking rates were falling, adding that they were looking at restrictions on the promotion and marketing of junk food.

The percentage of pregnant women with a healthy BMI in Dundee was the lowest in Scotland at 31.7%. Nationally the figure is 42%.

Edinburgh professor Linda Bauld, from Cancer Research UK, said: “Tackling obesity is complex but laws to restrict supermarket multi-buy offers on junk food would be an effective measure, helping everyone, including mumsto-be, from filling their shopping trolleys with foods high in fat and sugar.”

Calling for more support for the Quit Your Way service, the cancer prevention expert said: “We need to ensure further investment in this vital service if we’re to support more pregnant women to achieve a smoke-free pregnancy.”

Health Secretary Jeanne Freeman said they were working on an action plan with NHS Health Scotland to hit home to women the importance of a healthy weight and diet, as well as the dangers of tobacco and alcohol.

The SNP MSP added: “To tackle our nation’s damaging relationship with junk food, we are also consulting on restricting the in-store promotion and marketing of food that is high in fat, sugar or salt but with little or no nutritional benefit.”

There cannot be too many people unaware of the dangers of smoking when pregnant. Likewise, the fact that poor diet and obesity are far from desirable would surprise nobody.

So why do so many people in society remain in the grip of such vices?

It is a complicated equation – suggestions that poverty has a part to play in poor diet may have some seed of truth, but as for smoking? Given the cost of cigarettes, it is hardly a lifestyle choice for the least well off.

Yet, the number of pregnant smokers, in Dundee at least, remains stubbornly high.

According to a new study some 20% of pregnant women in the city smoke.

It is a shocking statistic.

As is the fact that fewer than a third of expectant mums in Dundee are a healthy weight – the worst in the country,

Education certainly has a role to play, but there are now suggestions that more blunt instruments may be required.

One possible measure would see new restrictions on multi-buy offers where junk food is involved.

As with the minimum pricing for alcohol, this will inevitably lead to claims the vast majority of responsible people are being forced to foot the bill for efforts to protect the tiny minority who struggle to maintain healthy habits.

It is a tricky conundrum – it will be interesting to see what the latest in a long line of “action plans” ultimately suggests.

Picture: Mhairi Edwards. Cancer Research UK is concerned that one in five pregnant women in Dundee smokes.