LONLINESS and social isolation is having an impact on people's health in older and younger people, according to studies.

MSPs want to hear from people of their experiences of feeling alone to examine what services can be provided to help get people connected with society.

The research by Age UK showed that more than 80,000 over 65s Scotland felt they always or often felt lonely.

Around 40% of older people said the television was their main form of company, about 350,000 people, equivalent to the combined population of Aberdeen and Dundee.

The effect on poor health is estimated to double the impact of obesity and increase the chances of a premature death by 14%.

It has been compared to the same effect on health and life expectancy as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

The Scottish Parliament Equalities Committee has launched an inquiry into loneliness to understand the impact on individuals and to ensure people's experiences inform how it should best be tackled.

Older people have told of how local support groups have given them a social life back.

Bounty Dickson, 84, from Motherwell said after her husband died she felt lost and alone.

She said: "My husband Alec and I would have celebrated our sixtieth anniversary this year. We were always together. After he was diagnosed with dementia I cared for him for six years and it could be hard. But I just felt lost after he was gone. The loneliness was terrible. Many of the friends we knew had died. I spent a lot of time just watching television. I didn't see the point in going out. Just calling for a taxi for myself was more than I could manage. I lost the confidence to do even the little things. "

June Keyes, 79, from Over town in North Lanarkshire, said small things become amplified by loneliness.

She said: "Living alone can be very difficult and feelings of isolation can sometimes be overwhelming.

"Without anyone to talk to or interact with, you can get little worries out of perspective.

"Before you know it you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders."

Both women said that services, run by the local council had made a difference to their lives.

Mrs Dickson said she was persuaded to go along to a local group where people her age could meet.

She added: "Finally I agreed to give it a try. I met the group for lunch, and went straight home afterwards. But I kept going every week. I started enjoying it and staying a little longer.

"One day a lady came to the group who turned out to be an old friend of mine. Alec had been a railwayman and so had her husband.

"It was lovely to catch up. I've been going to the groups twice a week for a year now."

Mrs Keyes, whose husband David died three years ago, has joined up for a telephone befriending service.

She said: "Receiving the regular befriending calls has been an incredible boost.

"Just knowing that someone is always there at the end of the phone with a listening ear and a kind word has been a lifeline."

The committee wants to hear from people affected and from groups that are providing services to establish what works and if he best examples can be used across the country.

Margaret McCulloch, Committee Convener, said: "If you are an older or younger person living in Scotland and experiencing loneliness, we understand that the effects can be devastating. We want to engage with you, understand your views and encourage positive action on your behalf.

"Crucially, we want to encourage best practice on combating the effects of loneliness to be shared as widely as possible. We are keen to hear from organisations using innovative ways to help lonely people in Scotland access the kind of social opportunities many of us take for granted.

"The key questions for the Committee are: what is the impact of loneliness and social isolation, is this an escalating problem, and how can it be tackled effectively?"

The NSPCC carried out research on loneliness among children who call ChildLine.

It found ChildLine counselled 5,525 children who said loneliness, sadness and isolation as their main problem

Another 4,399 children counselled said loneliness was an additional problem with family relationship, bullying and physical abuse the most common problems associated with loneliness.