Obesity levels in Scotland are the second highest in the developed world behind the US, a new report warned yesterday.

More than one-quarter of adults living north of the border are classified as obese, according to the latest research.

That is double the rate for Germany and three times the rate for Norway.

The toll the problem is taking on the nation's health is also laid bare in the document, which was published by the Scottish Government's statistics division.

It estimates that nearly half a million cases of high blood pressure north of the border are linked to over-eating. More than 24,000 heart attacks, 550 strokes and nearly 900 cases of cancer a year are also attributed to the nation's weight problem.

Dr Colin Waine, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, described the findings as "seriously worrying".

With one in five primary seven pupils considered obese, he warned the levels of ill health were likely to get even worse. He said: "Obesity potentially could take several decades off the life span of children and bring the first cut in life expectancy for 200 years."

The publication of the Obesity in Scotland report yesterday coincided with the launch of plans to remove sweets and fizzy drinks from schools. This is the latest in a number of strategies to improve the Scottish diet - a 10-year action plan to overhaul the nation's eating habits was published back in 1996.

However, obesity levels in both adults and children have risen steadily during the past 10 years, according to the research. The report notes: "These figures provide little evidence that current approaches to obesity are having any impact."

It adds: "The increasing levels of obesity are of serious concern given the levels of morbidity and mortality associated with obesity. It is estimated that obese people in Scotland are 18% more likely to be hospitalised than those of normal weight."

Obesity is often considered to be a more common problem in deprived neighbourhoods, although the new report found some variations on this trend.

Ian Grant, co-author of the report, said: "There seems to be a suggestion of a link that obesity worsens with deprivation. But when we look at children's data, it is not as clear cut as that. This picks up on research in England which found they had high levels among children in high-income families."

Obesity refers to a person's body mass index, when weight is divided by height, while waist circumference is simply the measurement taken around the girth. The scale of Scotland's weight problems varies between regions. Forth Valley appears to have the slimmest men, while weight seems to be a bigger problem for men on Scottish islands and across the rural region of Dumfries and Galloway.

Rates of obesity among women appear lower than the Scottish average in Greater Glasgow and the Lothians, but higher again in the islands, Dumfries and Galloway, Fife and Lanarkshire.

Mr Grant said sample size and the way the data had been analysed meant regional comparisons were not entirely reliable and further research would be necessary to tease out trends.

He said: "For us one of the areas we would probably want to look at is the difference between urban and rural areas. I think that is worth exploring because we make all these connections about modes of transport and lifestyle. We need to really try to see if we are looking at different trends and patterns."

Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health, said: "The Scottish Government recognises that obesity is an increasing problem and poses a very serious threat to health. This is why we are making tackling the problem, particularly early in life, a high priority."

She highlighted a number of measures the government is taking to address the problem including promoting more physical activity in schools and supporting GP services to assess and treat obese children.