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Scotland’s Chief Statistician today announced the publication of the Scottish Health Survey 2011.  This is the seventh report in the Scottish Health Survey series which began in 1995.  The report comprises separate volumes for adults and children and Health Board level results are published alongside the annual report for the first time since 2003.  

• Three quarters of adults (76per cent) described their health as ‘good’ or ‘very good’ in 2011.
• The mean score on the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) in 2011 was 49.9.   There has been no significant change in the mean score since 2008.
• 90per cent of adults had all or some of their own natural teeth in 2011 (91per cent of men and 89per cent of women). 
• A quarter of men (25per cent) and just under a fifth of women (18per cent) were categorized as hazardous or harmful drinkers (men drinking more than 21 units per week and women drinking more than 14) in 2011.  Prevalence of hazardous/harmful drinking has declined since 2003, most notably in the 2003 to 2009 period.
• The sharp decrease in non-smokers’ exposure to second-hand smoke seen in the decade between 1998 and 2008 was maintained in 2011.  In 2011, 8per cent of non-smokers reported being exposed to smoke in public places.
• There has been no significant change in the proportion of adults or children consuming the recommended daily intake of 5 or more portions of fruit and vegetables (20per cent of men, 23per cent of women, 13per cent of boys and 12per cent of girls did so in 2011)
• 39per cent of adults adults met the physical activity recommendations with men more likely to meet them than women (45per cent compared with 33per cent). The target is for 50per cent of adults to meet the recommendations by 2022.   Since 2008 there has been no significant change in the proportion of adults meeting the recommendations.
• In 2011, 73per cent of children (76per cent of boys and 70per cent of girls) met the physical activity recommendations (at least 60 minutes daily) including school-based activity. Although there was little change for boys between 2008 and 2011, the proportion of girls meeting the recommendations increased from 64per cent in 2008.
• In 2011, just under two-thirds (64.3per cent) of adults aged 16 and over were overweight or obese (BMI of 25 kg/m² and over) while over a quarter (27.7per cent) were obese.  Prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults has increased significantly since 1995 but has remained broadly stable since 2008.
• In 2011, two-thirds (65.6per cent) of children had a healthy weight, a decrease from 70.3per cent in 1998.  Girls were significantly more likely than boys to be a healthy weight (68.0per cent compared with 63.4per cent).
• In 2011, 15.6per cent of men and 13.8per cent of women reported having cardiovascular disease (CVD). 
• In 2011, 6.1per cent of men and 4.9per cent of women aged 16 and over had doctor diagnosed diabetes.
• In 2010/2011, a third of men (33per cent) and women (32per cent) aged 16 and over had hypertension.

Related information:

The annual report comprises 3 volumes - separate reports on adults, children and a technical report.  The report is accompanied by a set of web tables and an interactive mapping tool breaking down the key results by NHS Board.  The  full statistical publication and web tables can be accessed from the Scottish Government website.

Further information on Health and Community Care statistics within Scotland.

More information on the standards of National statistics in Scotland.