HEALTH experts have revealed that East Ayrshire has the joint-highest percentage of adults classed as being overweight or obese in Scotland.

Stats found that a shocking 75 per cent of grown ups in the area fall into this category.

The study, by Now patient, looked into the percentage of adults classified as overweight or obese in England, Scotland and Wales to reveal the areas with the highest and lowest obesity rates.

Orkney Islands also had 75 per cent of adults classed as overweight or obese.

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Staying in Ayrshire, the North counterparts tied in eighth place with Aberdeen and North Lanarkshire, with a 70 per cent obesity/overweight rating.

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

Health bosses in Ayrshire and Arran have said that work is being done to combat weight issues in the area.

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 is 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."