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The Herald Scotland
05-08-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Scot Gov 'failure' slammed as Covid charities quit group
They have also alleged that the Scottish Government has failed to allocate a promised £4.5m in funding for specialist support services, despite NHS boards submitting plans for review. In a joint statement, the charities said: 'What was framed as a hopeful investment in December 2024 now stands as a symbol of stalled progress and unmet promises in August 2025. 'Meanwhile, services are being decommissioned, waiting lists stretch six months beyond service termination, and multiple Boards have warned of imminent closure — with still no provision at all for children and young people in most areas.' According to the most recent Scottish Health Survey, 8% of adults and 2% of children have self-reported symptoms of Long Covid - defined as symptoms which persist at least four weeks beyond the onset of infection. It is estimated that as many as 187,000 Scots may have symptoms of the disease. Read more: Forth Road Bridge closed in both directions, police say Still Game star to headline Wigtown Book Festival next month Scottish activists in free speech row after Palestine Action proscription The statement added: 'Faith has been lost. Too many times we have listened to assurances within the network followed by inaction. 'Scots with Long Covid have been repeatedly let down, while well-documented issues persist, remain unaddressed, and worsen. This failure violates Article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). 'Ignoring the needs of those disabled by Long Covid contradicts the core principles it claims to uphold. And also undermines the Scottish Government's own Disability Equality Plan, which commits to co-production, accountability, and equitable access to care. The promise of a 'Once for Scotland' approach has collapsed. 'Expertise has been lost, trust has been squandered, and the current situation now represents a significant political and reputational crisis. 'We do regret our resignation, but within the Network, our repeated warnings are first ignored and then proven true.' Public health minister Jenni Minto told The Scotsman: 'We are working hard with NHS boards and will shortly be setting out how our new investment of £4.5m will deliver specialist support across Scotland.'
Daily Record
21-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
New tool can identify children who are likely to become obese in adulthood
The ground-breaking tool can also predict how well obese adults will respond to targeted weight loss programmes Obesity in children continues to be a major topic of discussion in Scotland. Around 33 per cent of kids aged two to 15 in Scotland are at risk of being overweight or obese, according to the Scottish Health Survey 2022. This is the highest number since 2011. Childhood obesity can be influenced by many factors such as lifestyle, environment, and even genetics. But what if there was a way that could measure a child's risk of becoming obese? Well, incredibly, this very tool has just been created by scientists. And it is hoped that one day, those at highest risk will get targeted support to prevent them from becoming obese in the first place. The tool, which assesses a person's genetic risk of obesity, works twice as well as any other obesity risk predictor, academics say. It can also predict how well obese adults will respond to targeted weight loss programmes. Dr Kaitlin Wade, associate professor in epidemiology at the University of Bristol and second author on the paper, said: 'Obesity is a major public health issue, with many factors contributing to its development. "These factors likely vary across a person's life, and we believe that some of these originate in childhood. We were delighted to contribute... data to this exceptional and insightful research into the genetic architecture of obesity. "We hope this work will contribute to detecting individuals at high risk of developing obesity at an earlier age, which could have a vast clinical and public health impact in the future." So, how did the study work? Academics used detail on genetic variations from more than five million people to create a tool called a polygenic risk score, which analyses people's genetics to work out their risk of developing obesity. The tool could explain 17.6 percent of variation in body mass index score (BMI) from people in the UK. Researchers, led by academics at the universities of Copenhagen and Bristol, tested whether the risk score was associated with obesity using datasets of the physical and genetic characteristics of more than 500,000 people. This included checking the tool on people taking part in the "Children of the 90s" study - a long-term study in Bristol tracking families as children age. They found that it could successfully predict weight gain during childhood - from the age of just two and a half - through to adolescence. "What makes the score so powerful is the consistency of associations between the genetic score and body mass index before the age of five and through to adulthood – timing that starts well before other risk factors start to shape their weight later in childhood," said assistant professor Roelof Smith, lead author of the research. "Intervening at this point could theoretically make a huge impact." Smith told the PA news agency that BMI is not a good predictor for a child's obesity risk in later life. However, the genetic predictor can offer insight into the risk from early years. "It's fixed at conception already very early in life, you're able to essentially quantify what someone's innate predisposition is for BMI," he said. "So, being able to say something about someone's innate biology for obesity risk." Meanwhile, the research team also looked at people taking part in "intensive lifestyle intervention" programmes. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. People with a higher risk score lost more weight, but were also more likely to regain it. "There is a huge amount of variation in how people respond to these interventions," Prof Smit added. "What we observed was the higher someone's score was, the more they tended to respond to the intervention. "People who had a higher score tended to lose more weight in the first year. And we also saw that people who had the higher scores tended to gain more weight."
The National
01-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Glasgow arcade fights anxiety with calm games and quiet sessions
Located in Saltmarket in Glasgow, this retro arcade holds hour-long, inclusive sessions every week amid a rising mental health crisis in Scotland. During those times, video games are made quieter, some of the flickering screens are turned off, and the arcade's capacity is reduced from 16 people to 10. The sessions were designed as safe spaces for people who have issues with auditory and visual overstimulation, such as neurodivergent people, and anyone else who would like to enjoy video games in a calmer environment. READ MORE: Nigel Farage has brought 'racism and hatred' to by-election, says John Swinney Andrew Lindsay-Faulkner, 39, is the company director of R-CADE Ltd. He started the business in 2018. 'The first year that we opened, we realised that there were a lot of carers and mentors that were coming down, and they wanted to bring down their mentees and the people they look after,' he said. 'We started doing quiet sessions so that they would have their space to themselves.' First located in a smaller unit, R-CADE expanded to a larger space in 2022. Home to more than 2300 video games, the store is now part arcade, part board game café. Yet recent years have been tough for the company. Rising energy costs, rent rates, and government taxes, as well as the ramifications of Brexit and the pandemic on the cost of imported goods, have limited R-CADE's spending budget. 'We've had a tough couple of years, just sort of trying to survive,' said Lindsay-Faulkner. But managing to host inclusive, soothing gaming sessions continues to be important for the director. 'I don't think that it's ever going to be unnecessary,' he said. 'There's always going to be people who need that space. I'm just happy that we can provide it.' Lindsay-Faulkner's (below) own experience with anxiety also influenced his decision to create quiet gaming sessions. 'I've had anxiety in the past. I know that feeling well, and I never want anybody to actually feel that sort of pressure,' he said. The number of people in Scotland who experience two or more symptoms of anxiety has been on the rise, from 9% in 2008 to 17% in 2022, according to the 2022 Scottish Health Survey. Anxiety can also be related to experiencing sensory overload and feeling overwhelmed, according to the NHS. Lindsay-Faulkner is aware that video games provide a needed break from stress and worry for many people. 'We're so disillusioned with the world around us currently, and we have a need to escape that. I feel like video games – and not just video games, whatever your passion is – is the best way to get away from the things that we have to deal with,' he said. 'A lot of people on the spectrum actually adore video games. It's a really good focus point for them. It's something that they can talk about for hours and hours and not feel judged, which I think is incredible,' he added. Many different people have come to the quiet sessions, some of them for years. The space is visited by people with anxiety, attention deficit disorder, autism spectrum disorders, and people who have issues with claustrophobic spaces. Any carers who accompany them can come for free. 'It's nice for them to experience the games together. Being able to offer that to people who work for some amazing charities is something that we can give back,' Lindsay-Faulkner said. Summers are usually one of the busiest times of the year for the arcade, as families are more available to come during the week. This coming autumn, the company hopes to be able to launch a new expansion. 'If we were to get a bigger space, then I would love to have a dedicated area that would be constantly for people on the spectrum, people who have issues with overstimulation,' he said. 'Having a permanent area that we could put aside would be phenomenal.' R-CADE is not the only business in Glasgow which offers these quiet spaces, according to Lindsay-Faulkner. 'It's a big part of the alternative community or anybody that's into geek culture, like comic books, video games, board games, or just collectibles. Our businesses are very in tune with people who have issues with overstimulation,' he said. 'I feel like more businesses should be like that as well.' As a long-time collector and lover of video games, Lindsay-Faulkner is clearly proud of the space and the community he has built over the years. 'My favourite thing is probably watching people walk into R-CADE for the first time and the look of wonder in their eyes when they look around,' he said. 'It's all about community, at the end of the day. A lot of people ask me, 'has it not ruined video games for you? Has making it your passion, your entire life, not ruined it?' 'No, not at all! As long as I remember why I'm doing it, then it's all good,' he said. R-CADE is open Thursday to Friday from 12pm to 10pm, and Sunday from 12pm to 7pm. Their Quiet Time Sessions are on Thursdays at 12pm and 1:10pm, and are bookable on their website
STV News
27-05-2025
- Health
- STV News
Takeaways have 'lots of scope' for reduction amid obesity crackdown
NHS Fife has said takeaways and restaurants offer 'lots of scope' in reducing Scots calorie intake amid a pilot aimed at tackling obesity. The pilot scheme will see the health board work with inspectors and local vendors to help combat overeating. In the new report from the health board, it says that takeaways and full-service restaurants have 'lots of scope' for calorie reduction and helping communities achieve a healthy weight. 'In 2021, people in Scotland took three out-of-home trips per week on average, with one in six adults eating out at least once a week,' it read. 'Taste, ease, and convenience are the main reasons for eating out of home. Portion sizes tend to be bigger, resulting in greater caloric intake when eating out of home as compared to eating at home.' NHS Fife's director of Public Health, Dr Joy Tomlinson, said in the report she wants to 'explore the potential for place-based approaches to planning and collaborative working to create health places and spaces.' The crackdown comes after a 2023 report found that a record 32% of Scots were living with obesity and a further 34% were overweight. It marked the highest level of obesity reported in the Scottish Health Survey and was significantly higher than the 24% reported in 2003. The report, urging Scots to eat better, said evidence from the Scottish Burden of Disease Study shows that the health of Fife's population would be improved if everyone ate a healthier diet and stayed as active as possible. However, it added there remain significant structural barriers for people living in Fife to access a healthy diet and stay physically active as part of their everyday lives. The barriers included affordability and food insecurity but hidden factors such as having the time and confidence and skills to cook from scratch, lack of resources for energy to cook and the means to travel to shops that offer a wide range of foods. The report said: 'Lack of confidence and poor cooking skills, and lack of food knowledge contributes to the lower fruit and vegetable intake and higher intake of high fat, high sugar foods processed foods of people in Fife. Improved access to affordable healthy food is crucial to making improvements in what people eat.' Service Manager Lisa McCann said: 'The council is not considering introducing calorie or portion size limits to takeaways. We're working with partners to see how best we can take forward a range of initiatives to encourage physical activity and improve access to healthier diets. 'One of these initiatives is in the very early stages of exploring the feasibility of a calorie reduction pilot project with our Public Health partners. It would potentially look at the understanding among retailers of the calories on their menus and portion sizes, how they may be able to reduce these and what support would be required if they were interested in doing so.' NHS Fife has been contacted for comment. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
STV News
27-05-2025
- Health
- STV News
Takeaways facing portion control limits amid obesity crackdown
Fife Council could implement portion control limits on the amount of food offered at takeaways in a new pilot aimed at tackling obesity. The pilot scheme will see NHS Fife work with inspectors and local vendors to help combat overeating. In the new report from the health board, it says that takeaways and full-service restaurants have 'lots of scope' for calorie reduction and helping communities achieve a healthy weight. 'In 2021, people in Scotland took three out-of-home trips per week on average, with one in six adults eating out at least once a week,' it read. 'Taste, ease, and convenience are the main reasons for eating out of home. Portion sizes tend to be bigger, resulting in greater caloric intake when eating out of home as compared to eating at home.' NHS Fife's director of Public Health, Dr Joy Tomlinson, said in the report she wants to 'explore the potential for place-based approaches to planning and collaborative working to create health places and spaces.' The crackdown comes after a 2023 report found that a record 32% of Scots were living with obesity and a further 34% were overweight. It marked the highest level of obesity reported in the Scottish Health Survey and was significantly higher than the 24% reported in 2003. The report, urging Scots to eat better, said evidence from the Scottish Burden of Disease Study shows that the health of Fife's population would be improved if everyone ate a healthier diet and stayed as active as possible. However, it added there remain significant structural barriers for people living in Fife to access a healthy diet and stay physically active as part of their everyday lives. The barriers included affordability and food insecurity but hidden factors such as having the time and confidence and skills to cook from scratch, lack of resources for energy to cook and the means to travel to shops that offer a wide range of foods. The report said: 'Lack of confidence and poor cooking skills, and lack of food knowledge contributes to the lower fruit and vegetable intake and higher intake of high fat, high sugar foods processed foods of people in Fife. Improved access to affordable healthy food is crucial to making improvements in what people eat.' NHS Fife has been contacted for comment. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
