Scottish Health Survey 2024 Reveals Alarming Trends on Health and Well-being

Strategic Insights -

The latest Scottish Health Survey, published on October 21, 2025, sheds light on the health and well-being of adults and children in Scotland. The survey reveals a concerning increase in long-term health conditions, with half of all adults now having at least one long-term condition. The prevalence of doctor-diagnosed diabetes has reached an all-time high of 8%, and almost 40% of adults report having a long-term condition that limits their activities.

Key Takeaways:

  • Half of all adults in Scotland now have at least one long-term condition, continuing the upward trend.
  • Almost two in five adults (39%) report having a long-term condition that limits their activities.
  • The prevalence of doctor-diagnosed diabetes has reached an all-time high of 8%.
  • Only 11% of adults meet the guideline of eating five or more portions of fruit or vegetables per day, a decrease from 20% in 2021.
  • Food insecurity has decreased, with 8% of adults reporting worry about running out of food due to a lack of money or other resources.
  • 76% of those experiencing menopause symptoms have utilized one or more ways of managing them, with physical activity being the most common method.
  • The prevalence of possible eating disorders among adults is 13%, with the highest rate among those aged 16-24 (26%).
  • The proportion of adults who report feeling lonely 'most' or 'all of the time' has decreased from 10% in 2023 to 7% in 2024.
  • Prevalence of doctor-diagnosed asthma has reached 18%, the highest proportion recorded.
  • The prevalence of any CVD (excluding diabetes or high blood pressure) remains at 16% of adults.
  • 15% of adults report being unpaid carers in the 2023/2024 combined period.
  • The proportion of adults with a GHQ-12 score of 4 or more, indicative of a possible psychiatric disorder, is 22%.
  • The prevalence of adults with two or more symptoms of depression is 10%, a decrease from 13% in 2021/2022 combined.
  • Seven per cent of adults report currently having long COVID, consistent with 2023 (8%) and remaining higher than in 2021 (5%).
  • 62% of adults meet the guidelines for moderate or vigorous physical activity (MVPA).

Statistics:

  • 51% of adults have at least one long-term condition (p. 2)
  • 8% of adults report having doctor-diagnosed diabetes (p. 2)
  • 39% of adults report having a long-term condition that limits their activities (p. 2)
  • 11% of adults meet the guideline of eating five or more portions of fruit or vegetables per day (p. 3)
  • 8% of adults report worry about running out of food due to a lack of money or other resources (p. 3)
  • 76% of those experiencing menopause symptoms have utilized one or more ways of managing them (p. 4)
  • 13% of adults meet the Scottish Dietary Goal for saturated fat of no more than 10% of energy excluding ethanol (p. 5)
  • 22% of adults met the Scottish Dietary Goal of free sugars accounting for no more than 5% of energy excluding ethanol (p. 5)
  • 10% of adults currently smoke (p. 5)

Sources:

  • Scottish Government. "Scottish Health Survey 2024: Main Report." Published October 21, 2025
  • Scottish Government. "Scottish Health Survey 2024: Main Report - Summary of Key Results." Published October 21, 2025
  • Code of Practice for Statistics. "Accredited Official Statistics."