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Scotland's C-Section Rate Hits Record High Amid Obesity Crisis
15 Feb
Summary
- Caesarean birth rate in Scotland reaches a new record high.
- Nearly half of all babies in Scotland are now delivered via C-section.
- Maternal obesity linked to increased risks for mothers and babies.
The rate of caesarean births in Scotland has reached an unprecedented high, with nearly 45% of deliveries occurring via C-section between July and September last year. This marks a significant increase from just 32% in 2017. Concurrently, official figures reveal that a record 28.5% of women giving birth in the year ending March 2025 were obese, with an additional 29.2% classified as overweight.
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has issued urgent warnings about the growing public health concern of maternal obesity. The RCP highlights that obese pregnant women are twice as likely to undergo a caesarean section. Beyond this, they face substantially higher risks of gestational diabetes (three times more likely), pre-eclampsia (2.8 times more likely), and postpartum haemorrhage (almost twice as likely).
Furthermore, the RCP report emphasizes that maternal obesity poses long-term health risks for children, including a predisposition to obesity, respiratory infections, asthma, and cardiovascular disease in later life. The RCP is advocating for comprehensive measures, including stricter food policies and improved public education on the impacts of obesity during pregnancy and birth.
