Scotland is the unhealthiest part of the UK with the highest rates of cancer and heart disease, according to a national survey of health trends.
Scottish people take more sick days and are more likely to have a "couch potato" lifestyle, spending more on junk food, the office of national statistics (ONS) found.
The report, Regional Trends, also found a striking north-south divide in people's health, particularly in heart disease.
Figures for 1999 reveal the mortality rate for the most common form of heart disease for women in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north-west region of the NHS was more than 210 deaths per 100,000 population.
In contrast the rates in the London, south-east, south-west and Eastern regions were less than 170.
Wales and Scotland had the highest overall mortality rates, with 11.9 deaths per 1,000 people and 11.8 deaths per 1,000 respectively. London had the lowest rate of 8.5 per 1,000.
However, a report by Scotland's chief medical officer (CMO) Dr Mac Armstrong also released today concludes that Scottish people are living longer and more healthily.
The CMO's report states that 5,000 fewer people died from coronary heart disease last year (12,412) than in 1980 (17,885).
The national target to reduce mortality from cancer in people under 65 by 15% between 1986 and 2000 has also been achieved.
However, the health gap between rich and poor has not been closed with those living in the most deprived areas still two-and-a-half times more likely than the wealthiest to die from coronary heart disease.
A spokesman for the Scottish executive said it was targeting the root causes of ill health, particularly poverty, unemployment, poor housing and poor education.
The ONS report found wide variations in the incidence of different types of cancer across the UK.
Women in Scotland have a 50% higher risk of developing lung cancer than the national average, while those in the south-west have a 30% lower chance.
But breast cancer rates buck the north-south health divide with women in the south-west having an 11% higher chance of developing it.
South Yorkshire, the East Midlands and South Humberside had the lowest rates of breast and prostate cancer.
Milton Keynes had the lowest death rate of any town or city and Conwy in north Wales had the highest.
