The health of the nation

The unhealthy lifestyle that leads to Scotland's unenviable reputation for high levels of heart attacks, obesity and cancer is usually set in pattern in childhood. That makes the information gained from the survey of the health-related behaviour of schoolchildren an invaluable tool for policy planners and health practitioners. The results from a 2006 survey of Scottish children aged 11, 13 and 15 include some very worrying statistics among an overall trend of improvement.