SHOCKING figures from NHS Fife have revealed that two out of three adults in Fife are overweight or obese.

The findings also show that 23 per cent of adults in Fife drink more than the recommended weekly units and just 23 per cent of adults ate five portions of fruit and vegetables every day.

Dona Milne, director of public health, said: “We want the population of Fife to live longer, healthier lives and we know that factors such as obesity and poor dietary intake lead to increased likelihood of developing cancers, heart disease and stroke.

“Excessive alcohol consumption is another significant factor proving detrimental to the health of Fifers.

"It is recommended that adults should not consume more than 14 units in any one week, and whilst we know that most people adhere to this advice, around a quarter of our population continue to drink more than the recommended weekly units.

“As a health board, we want to focus with our partners on reducing harm from excessive drinking and that is why we are providing alcohol brief interventions, particularly in areas of need, to support people to cut down on harmful drinking. Furthermore, we continue to object to licensing applications where we believe this would increase alcohol-related harm in areas where alcohol-related harm is already high.”

Her annual report for 2019 was published at the end of May and outlines ongoing work between NHS Fife and its partners as they aim to reduce inequality and strengthen support for families and communities across the Kingdom.

The update also showed that 18 per cent of children in Fife are living in poverty, with 31 per cent of households living in fuel poverty.

Ms Milne added: “When we harness our knowledge and resources and work with local communities, we can make a real contribution to reducing inequality. The greatest gains for those facing the highest levels of inequality will come from addressing the social and economic determinants of health.

“Through continued close collaboration between all partners, we can build on the work already under way, supporting families and local communities across Fife.