Diet and nutrition: introduction and policy context

Poor diet and nutrition is a major 'downstream' cause of ill-health, chronic disease, and premature death in Scotland. Eating a healthy diet can help reduce the risk of many chronic diseases (WHO/FAO, 2003), including the two leading causes of death in Scotland - coronary heart disease (CHD) and cancer. Food insecurity is another causes of ill-health related to diet. Between 2017 and 2021, a crude average of 13% of Scottish Health Survey (SHeS) respondents reported that they had experienced food insecurity in the last year, in that they had worried they would run out of food because of lack of money or other resources.

The Scottish Health Survey provides data on diet and nutrition. The most recent data from 2022 are available here.

• Estimates from for fruit and vegetable consumption in Scotland in 2019 indicate that 21% of men and 23% of women consumed the recommended amount of five or more portions per day.  The 2017 proportions were the highest since the record began in 2003 (22% for men and 26% for women).
• People living in the most deprived areas of Scotland are less likely to meet five-a-day recommendations for daily fruit and vegetable consumption compared with those in the least deprived areas.
• In 2017 and 2018, 15% of children aged 2-15 years met the recommended daily intake of five or more portions, this dropped to 14% in 2019 but rose to 21% in 2022.
• In 2019, 9% of adults in Scotland reported having experienced food insecurity in terms of worrying that they would run out of food due to lack of money or resources during the previous 12 months, the same proportion as in 2018.

Policy context

• In July 2018 ‘A healthier future: Scotland’s diet and healthy weight delivery plan’ was launched by the Scottish Government, setting out the challenge of improving Scotland’s diet and reducing the impact of poor diets.  Acknowledging that problems can start early, there is a strong focus on ensuring children have a healthy diet and aim to maintain a healthy weight.  Other outcomes include ensuring the food environment supports healthy choices and that health inequalities related to diet are reduced.
• In July 2022, Good Food Nation (Scotland) became Scots Law. As of September 2024, Scottish Government were analysing data on a related consultation.
• A soft drinks industry levy was introduced by the UK Government in April 2018.
• In 2019 the UK Chief Medical Officer released the report 'Time to solve childhood obesity', which drew attention to the need for action on environmental influences on diet and exercise.