According to a report, more than a fifth of Coatbridge residents are clinically obese. Hence, it has been labeled as Britain's fattest town. About 21% of the Lanarkshires’ people have a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30.

Market-research firm CACI conducted a series of interviews as well as lifestyle interviews with people in neighborhoods across Britain. Glasgow North East, Methil, in Fife, and West Midlands town Walsall ranked second in the list as it had 20% of obese residents.

Edinburgh's prosperous Morningside district has 9% of residents classed as obese, making it one of the country's healthiest populations.

Councilor for Coatbridge West, Tom Maginnis believed that the increasing obesity is due to mushrooming of number of restaurants, cafes and fast-food outlets in the town. He said, “Every corner you turn in Coatbridge there are fast food restaurants and Indians, Chinese and fish-and-chip shops and that creates a problem. This area has a terrible record in terms of health, and we are working closely with the NHS to try to alleviate this”.

Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum shared that the Government should intensify its efforts to tackle the problem. He warned that obesity will have long-term implications for the NHS as it may lead to diseases like heart disease, diabetes and cancer.