Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government and COSLA published Preventing Overweight and Obesity in Scotland A Route Map towards Healthy Weight in February 2010. The route map made a long-term commitment (over 20 years) to taking actions to prevent overweight and obesity. The route map recognised that obesity is not just a health issue – it is a consequence of our culture, society and lifestyle. The route map made it clear that work across all areas of government and public sector was required to ensure that both local and national policies are directed at supporting people to achieve and then maintain a healthy weight and to limit weight gain. This will require a level of re-prioritisation of investment to support both the short and medium term across the areas of action set out in the route map. At the time of publication it was estimated that between 2008 and 2011, up to £200 million was allocated by the Scottish Government to various organisations for actions that either directly or indirectly contributed to preventing obesity.