HEALTH experts have revealed that a shocking 70 per cent of adults in North Ayrshire are overweight or obese.

That leaves the area ranked eighth worst in Scotland for weight levels.

The study, by Now Patient, found East Ayrshire had the worst overweight/obesity problem in Scotland, with 75 per cent of adults ranked in that category.

North Ayrshire tied in eighth place with Aberdeen and North Lanarkshire.

Edinburgh had the lowest obesity levels, with just 53 per cent of the population overweight.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran assistant director of public health, Lisa Davidson, said: "The environment where we live, work and play shapes our health.

"Being above a healthy weight is one factor that contributes to our health and wellbeing.

"In Ayrshire two thirds of adults are above a healthy weight. By working together we can improve access to healthier food and drinks and help people be more active more often.

"NHS Ayrshire and Arran are working with partners to drive forward a range of initiatives to help families achieve and maintain a healthy weight, such as increasing breastfeeding rates by offering mother to mother support alongside our core midwifery and health visiting services; providing practical support for families with young children on healthier food and drinks choices in the earliest years; providing access to Jumpstart, a family lifestyle programme for children above a healthy weight; encouraging more people to cycle and work to school and work; and increasing access to affordable healthier foods through community larders across Ayrshire.

"In 2020 we launched our health Weight Ayrshire app which provides an opportunity to access services and information from home and encourages both children and adults to engage and have conversations about the importance of physical activity and eating well."