WHITE Scottish men tend to die up to five years earlier than ethnic Indians living in the Scotland, new research has revealed.

Life expectancy for both men and women who identify as white Scottish on the national census is significantly lower than other ethnic groups such as Chinese, Pakistani and Indian.

The study also found that those listed as 'White Scottish' died younger than one of the largest ethnic groups white Irish, despite the two sharing similar cultural backgrounds

Poor diet, air pollution and bad habits have been blamed for the earlier mortality rate among white Scots.

David Walsh, programme manager at the Glasgow Centre for Public Health, said that cultural reasons and different living standards between ethnic groups may be behind variations in life expectancy.

But he said the phenomenon of the 'healthy migrant', whose genetics might be particularly robust, could also play a part.

"The whole area of life expectancy and how it relates to poverty and income is quite complex," he said.

"Then you have the 'healthy migrant' effect, which has shown that migrants who leave their home countries to settle elsewhere tend to be those with better health.

"Then there are populations where those who do not drink alcohol forms a large part of the community."

The report, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, was based on data from the Scottish 2001 Census of 4.6 million people.

It found that the life expectancy of White Scottish men was 74.7 years; White Irish males, 75 years; Chinese males, 79 years; Pakistani males, 79.3 years; and Indian males 80.9 years.

The life expectancy of White Scottish females was 79.4 years; White Irish females, 81 years; Indian females, 83.3 years; Chinese females, 83.4 years; and Pakistani females 84.6 years.

The research, led by Edinburgh University Professor Laurence Gruer of the Usher Institute for Population Health Sciences and Informatics, is said to be the first time life expectancy of ethnic groups had been calculated in a European country cross-referencing death records with ethnicity.

The report stated: "The longer life expectancies of the larger ethnic minorities In Scotland may reflect the poor average health of the White Scottish majority as much as the good health of minority groups.

"The causes of Scotland’s poor health record are a matter of continuing debate. Much evidence points to material disadvantage and air pollution in early years and culturally mediated behaviours including smoking, drinking alcohol and unhealthy eating, which may be less prevalent in some ethnic minority groups

"The possibility that people who migrate to another country, particularly over long distances, may be intrinsically healthier on average than those they leave behind (the healthy migrant effect) may also play a part."

Life expectancy in Scotland has been a source of consternation for health professionals for decades, and while there has been improvement, glaring black spots still remain.

Earlier this year the 2015 Review of Health showed that Scots die younger than in any other country in Western Europe, with life expectancy north of the Border rising more slowly than other European countries since the 1950s.

The so-called 'Glasgow Effect' - coined for the west coast's high rates of cancer, strokes and heart attacks - also continues to skew Scotland's overall health record by pushing average life expectancy down.

However, the problem of poor health is widespread, with recent figures showing that 64 per cent of adult Scots are overweight with 27 per cent classified as obese.