NHS spending on anti-obesity drugs in Scotland is now approaching £5 million a year, figures suggested today.

A total of £4.89 million was spent last year compared to £4.12 million the previous year.

And prescribing for obesity drugs is now five times higher than it was in 2001.

More than 104,000 items of the three drug types used for obesity were prescribed last year, and increase of more than 14,000 on the year before.

And around 9,500 people use one of those three drugs daily, the statisticians said.

Last year's cost of £4.89 million was said to be £770,000 more than last year.

A general increase in the prescribing of two drugs - orlistat, which blocks the absorption of dietary fat, and the appetite-suppressant sibutramine - and the introduction of a third, rimonabant, which is also an appetite suppressant, were said to be the main reason.

Today's NHS prescribing statistics also show some 2.47 million items were prescribed last year to treat rheumatic diseases and gout, a fall of nearly 85,000 on the year before.

The cost of the drugs rose slightly from £21.78 million to £21.85 million.

Public health minister Shona Robison said: "While these figures relate to only 0.2% of the population, the Scottish Government recognises that obesity is an increasing problem and poses a serious threat to health.

"This is why we are taking steps to avert the onset of unhealthy weight, particularly early in life, as a high priority."

Over the next three years some £56.5 million would be spent on obesity, healthy eating and physical activity initiatives, she said.

"We will publish an obesity action plan later this spring providing further details of these initiatives."