Taking action together - improving diet and healthy weight across Scotland
Posted on 04 March 2026 by Claire Hislop
- Diet and healthy weight
This year, World Obesity Day highlights that obesity is a global issue, exploring the scale of the challenge and the opportunities to create healthier, fairer systems for everyone. Claire Hislop, Organisational Lead, Food and Physical Activity, reflects on our recent Improving Diet and Healthy Weight conference and the power of partnership it demonstrated.
The time for incremental change is over.
Partners from across Scotland came together last month for a high energy day of learning, exploring how we can accelerate improvements in diet and healthy weight across the country.
The energy and commitment in the room demonstrated that we are ready for that challenge.
Evidence at the heart of action
The necessity of grounding both policies and programmes of work in robust evidence was a central theme throughout the day.
Speakers outlined the national picture on diet, highlighting the need to focus on structural changes which don’t rely on individual choice. We reflected on the importance of learning from what the evidence already tells us and using it to shape interventions that mean people in Scotland have the best chance of living healthier lives. The improvements in population health that evidence based action can lead to was clear.
Policy landscape and collaboration across the public health system
We were all unanimous that meaningful progress requires a whole system approach - it takes a village.
From planners to caterers, policymakers to researchers, and community facing teams to national bodies, improving diet and healthy weight is a shared responsibility.
We saw and heard how policy drivers are providing momentum for change - the Population Health Framework providing strategic direction for addressing the reasons for poor health, like food environments which don’t support health and inequalities; and the Good Food Nation policy creating new structures and expectations for local planning and accountability. Together, these frameworks can provide crucial opportunities to enable local and national partners to work together toward long term, sustainable change.
Real examples of what collaboration looks like in practice were shared, like using the Place Standard Tool to support community driven change and how planning at local authority level can support the creation of healthier food environments. Learning was also shared on the impact of healthier food advertising policies and the importance of public sector food.
Facilitated sessions allowed us to take deep dives on four key areas:
- Advertising policies
- Public sector food
- Good Food Nation planning
- Planning for healthier places
These conversations were not theoretical. They were about real opportunities for local and national action. We reflected on the evidence, learned from expert input and each other, and built connections that will support their next steps. The connections we made throughout the day will undoubtedly help strengthen the shared action needed to improve health and reduce inequalities.
Taking action for a healthier Scotland
With World Obesity Day calling for collective action to create healthier environments and reduce the burden of obesity on individuals, communities and health systems, our event could not have been timelier.
Reducing obesity and improving diet is not about individual choices alone - it requires system wide action that shapes healthier environments. Our conference demonstrated that Scotland has the policy frameworks, expertise and collaborative partnerships needed to make that shift happen.
Most importantly, it showcased a shared commitment across sectors to act now. We left the event energised and ready to contribute to a healthier future for everyone in Scotland.
We extend our sincere thanks to all speakers, facilitators, and delegates for their contributions. By working together, nationally and locally, we can create the conditions that support healthier diets, reduce inequalities and improve wellbeing for all.
You can watch the conference presentations here:
Further information
Read the Scottish Public Health System consensus statement on improving diet and healthy weight