The true cost of Scotland’s obesity crisis has been laid bare in a shocking new report showing a loss to the economy of more than £5billion a year.

Projections by economists show this will rise to almost £6billion within seven years if action is not taken to tackle the problem. Currently 67 per cent of the Scottish population is either ­overweight or obese.

The report by research charity Nesta forecasts that if growth in obesity prevalence continues, the percentage of people living with obesity in Scotland could go up one point to 31 per cent for adults and to 17 per cent for ­children by 2030.

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