Scottish Health Survey 2024 Reveals Trends in Health, Wellbeing, and Lifestyle

Strategic Insights -

The Scottish Health Survey 2024, a comprehensive report on the health and wellbeing of adults and children in Scotland, has been released, providing valuable insights into the nation's health trends. The survey results show a concerning upward trend in long-term conditions, with half of all adults now living with at least one condition, and nearly two in five adults reporting a 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.
  • 8% of adults report having doctor-diagnosed diabetes, the highest level recorded.
  • 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 reduced, with 8% of adults reporting being worried about running out of food due to a lack of money or other resources in the last 12 months, a decrease from 14% in 2023.
  • New questions on menopause and perimenopause showed that 76% of those who had experienced symptoms had utilised one or more ways of managing them.
  • The largest proportions had utilised physical activity (40%), Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) (38%) and/or vitamins, minerals or supplements (35%).
  • 13% of adults reported possible eating disorders, with 26% of those aged 16-24.
  • The proportion of adults who reported feeling lonely most or all of the time decreased from 10% in 2023 to 7% in 2024.
  • Prevalence of doctor-diagnosed asthma amongst adults reached 18%, the highest proportion recorded.
  • Prevalence of any CVD (excluding diabetes or high blood pressure) remained in line with recent years at 16% of adults.
  • 15% of adults reported being unpaid carers in 2023/2024 combined.
  • The proportion of adults with a GHQ-12 score of 4 or more, indicative of a possible psychiatric disorder, was 22%.
  • 10% of adults reported two or more symptoms of depression in 2023/2024 combined, a decrease from 13% in 2021/2022 combined.
  • Seven per cent of adults reported currently having long COVID, consistent with 2023 (8%).
  • Around six in ten adults met the guidelines for moderate or vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (62%).
  • The prevalence of hazardous or harmful alcohol consumption remained at 20% of adults.
  • Almost a third of adults (31%) were living with obesity, with a significantly higher proportion of females (35%) compared with males (27%).
  • 14% of adults were current smokers, maintaining the overall downward trend in prevalence recorded since 2003 (28%).
  • Current use of e-cigarettes or vaping devices (10%) remained in the range seen since 2022 (10%-12%).
  • 13% of adults met the Scottish Dietary Goal for saturated fat of no more than 10% of energy excluding ethanol.
  • Less than a quarter (22%) of adults met the Scottish Dietary Goal of free sugars accounting for no more than 5% of energy excluding ethanol.

Statistics:

  • 50% of adults in Scotland have at least one long-term condition.
  • 39% of adults report having a long-term condition that limits their activities.
  • 8% of adults report having doctor-diagnosed diabetes.
  • Only 11% of adults meet the guideline of eating five or more portions of fruit or vegetables per day.
  • 8% of adults report being worried about running out of food due to a lack of money or other resources in the last 12 months.
  • 26% of those aged 16-24 report possible eating disorders.
  • 18% of adults have doctor-diagnosed asthma.
  • 16% of adults have any CVD (excluding diabetes or high blood pressure).
  • 15% of adults reported being unpaid carers in 2023/2024 combined.
  • 22% of adults have a GHQ-12 score of 4 or more.
  • 10% of adults report two or more symptoms of depression in 2023/2024 combined.
  • 7% of adults report currently having long COVID.
  • 62% of adults meet the guidelines for moderate or vigorous physical activity (MVPA).
  • 20% of adults have hazardous or harmful alcohol consumption.
  • 31% of adults are living with obesity.
  • 14% of adults are current smokers.
  • 10% of adults use e-cigarettes or vaping devices.
  • 13% of adults meet the Scottish Dietary Goal for saturated fat of no more than 10% of energy excluding ethanol.
  • 22% of adults meet the Scottish Dietary Goal of free sugars accounting for no more than 5% of energy excluding ethanol.

Sources:

  • Scottish Health Survey 2024 main report, including a summary of key results, is available on the Scottish Health Survey website.
  • Key trends for Scotland and indicators for NHS health boards and local authorities are available via the Scottish Health Survey Dashboard.
  • Accredited Official Statistics are produced in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics.
  • General Health Questionnaire 12 (GHQ-12) scores range from 0-12, with scores of 4 or more indicative of a possible psychiatric disorder.