Waistlines expanding as we lose battle of the bulge

ScoTS have added an inch to their waistlines over the last decade as the country fights a losing battle of the bulge.

The average size of a man’s waist in Scotland in 2014/15 was 39in, while for women it was 35in – between a dress size 16 and 18.

That is more than an inch increase for both sexes since 2003, according the Scottish Health Survey.

experts last night warned of the dangers of carrying extra belly fat, which they said could be a ‘passport to an early death’. They also urged the government to get a grip on expanding waistlines which are putting increasing pressure on health services.

national obesity Forum spokesman Tam Fry said: ‘The real danger about belly fat is that you can’t see the most dangerous fat which is the visceral fat round your vital organs all of which are placed around that part of the body.

‘any kind of belly fat you need to take very seriously because it might be masking far worse fat and the possibility that it will damage your organs forever.’

mr Fry said that waistlines in Scotland have been getting steadily bigger over the last few decades, and urged ministers to take a tough stance on the junk food industry, adding: ‘It is going to demand a huge effort from the Scottish government to turn obesity around.’

Scottish Liberal democrat health spokesman alex cole-Hamilton said: ‘at the moment, Scotland is losing the battle of the bulge. It is not just waistbands that are under huge strain. Increases in the sort of diseases associated with being overweight put huge pressure on nHS services.’

While adults struggle to follow healthy living advice, the message appears to be getting through to children. The proportion of boys who were a healthy weight in 2015 was 73 per cent – 10 per cent more than four years earlier. For girls the figure was 70 per cent.

public health minister aileen campbell said: ‘It is encouraging to see that the Health Survey shows an increase in the proportion of children at healthy weight. However, obesity is an on-going issue for Scotland, as it is for most western countries.’