The percentage of adults (aged 16+) who were a healthy weight in 2021 was 32%, a slight decrease from 33% in 2019. The percentage of adults who are a healthy weight has remained relatively stable over the past few years, ranging from 32%-35% between 2008 and 2021.

The percentage of children (aged 2 to 15) who are a healthy weight was 64% in 2021, a decrease of 4 percentage points since 2019. This decrease does not represent a significant change at the 95% confidence interval.

The proportion of healthy-weight children has fluctuated since 2008, with the lowest prevalence occurring in 2021 (64%) and the highest in 2015 and 2017 (both 72%).

The percentage of adults who were a healthy weight in 2021[1] was 32%, similar to previous years which fluctuated between 32% and 35% between 2008 and 2021.

The percentage of children who are a healthy weight was 64% in 2021[2], a 4 percentage points decrease since 2019. This decrease does not represent a significant change at the 95% confidence interval.

Overall, younger adults are more likely to be a healthy weight than older adults. The age group with the greatest percentage at a healthy weight was the 16-24 group (61%), while the age group with the smallest percentage at a healthy weight was the 55-64 age group (22%).

Among children, 75% of those aged  12-15 were a healthy weight, compared to 58% of the 7-11 age group and 59% in the 2-6 age group.

30% of men were a healthy weight in 2021, compared to 35% of women.

This difference was similar in children, with 61% of boys at a healthy weight in 2021, compared with 67% of girls.

28% of adults with a limiting long-term health condition were a healthy weight in 2021, compared to 34% of those who did not have a limiting long-term condition.

For adults, 31% of adults in the most deprived areas were  a healthy weight, compared to 40% of those in the least deprived areas.

There was little difference in the percentage of adults who are a healthy weight between those living in urban areas (32%) and rural areas (34%).

[1] In 2021, the Scottish Health Survey was undertaken by telephone which meant that height and weight measurements used to calculate BMI were self-reported by respondents rather than being taken by the interviewer as in previous years. The self-reported measurements for adults were adjusted based on a comparison study by the Health Survey for England.

[2] In 2021, the Scottish Health Survey was undertaken by telephone which meant that height and weight measurements used to calculate BMI were self-reported by respondents rather than being taken by the interviewer as in previous years. The self-reported measurements for adults were adjusted based on a comparison study by the Health Survey for England. No equivalent adjustment factors are available for children and hence the analysis is based on self-reported measurements.