Health officials have warned of an established binge drinking culture in the Highlands, particularly among young people.

A report by NHS Highland found that some men are consuming over 200% more alcohol than they did five years ago.

The lifestyle study also found that half the adult population is overweight or obese - but fewer people are smoking.

Five and a half thousand people were questioned in the largest lifestyle study ever conducted in the Highlands.

It studied lifestyle issues including nutrition, physical activity, smoking, alcohol, sexual health and dental health.

Females are catching up in the drinking stakes

While residents are eating more fruit and vegetables and fewer are smoking - alcohol consumption has risen to worrying levels.

Doctor John Wrench, NHS Highland's Public Health Director, said that the dramatic rise may be partly due to more accurate reporting.

The report found:

• 77% of those aged between 16 and 24 admitted drinking to excess at weekends

• 38% of those in the 16-24 age bracket were binge drinking

The survey was sent to 5,500 residents and 3,500 forms were completed - a 63% response rate.

The safe alcohol limits are set down as being two to three units of alcohol daily for women and three to four for men.

Binge drinking is defined as consuming more than six units for a woman and eight for men at a sitting.

Excess drinking at weekends is a problem

Dr Wrench said: "By all accounts the pattern of drinking, particularly in young people, is not drinking during the week and very heavy sustained bouts of drinking during the weekend."

He said the report helped to explain the principal causes of premature death and disease.

"It also indicates areas that we need to concentrate on if we are to further improve health in the Highlands," he said.

On alcohol, the report stated that women appeared to be "catching up" with men's drinking levels, giving fresh "cause for concern".

'Quite a way to go'

The report, however, showed a significant decrease in males and females smoking since the last survey in 1996.

It found there were 5,500 less smokers aged 16-65 than six years ago.

It also found six out of 10 respondents ate at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day - a significant increase from 1996 when just 38% ate five or more portions.

Health officials said that fat consumption was falling, but noted that consumption of salt and sugar was rising.

More than half of the adult population in the Highlands is now classified as either overweight or obese.

Steve Bell, health promotion manager for NHS Highland, said: "We have 85,000-90,000 who are adults who are either overweight or obese, which suggests that there is still quite a way to go there."