The £40m investment, which will be spread over three years, will be made available for healthy weight, healthy eating and physical activity initiatives, with £15m targeted directly at obesity. 

Sturgeon said that obesity poses a “very serious threat to our nation’s health” and as such tackling the problem will be a “key priority” for the Scottish Government over the next three years. 

As part of this, measures will include offering free fruit for pregnant mothers, pre-school children and obese adults and rolling out the adult obesity treatment programme ‘Counterweight’ nationally. The Scottish Government will also publish its action plan on healthy weight, physical activity and healthy eating in Spring 2008. 

Sturgeon adds: "The Scottish Government and COSLA have agreed a new indicator to reduce the rate of increase in the number of children out with the healthy weight range by 2018. In addition a new NHS target will monitor the number of children successfully completing family-focused programmes that address the multiple causes of unhealthy weight.” 

She said that as a nation we all have a part to play in addressing our  sometimes unhealthy approach to food and exercise, adding: " We want to provide an environment that makes it easier for people to make healthy choices in what they eat and be more active in everyday life. 

"Behaviour change does not happen overnight but we believe that making tackling the problem of obesity a much higher priority will positively address the rising level of overweight adults and children in Scotland