Key Data (Public Health, State of the South West 2011)
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8.2.1 In 2006–09, the South West and South East had the joint highest life expectancy of all the English regions for women (83 years), and the South West had one of the highest for men (79 years). The comparable figures for Englandwere 82 years for women and 78 years for men (source: Office for National statistics (ONS), 2007–09 data 'Results for England and Wales').
8.2.2 In North Somerset, men in the least deprived areas (referred to as Quintile 1) have a life expectancy of nearly 83 years, compared to just over 73 years for those living in the most deprived areas (referred to as Quintile 5). This
is the largest gap for men in any of the South West’s Local Authorities. The largest gap for women is in Gloucester, where those living in the least deprived areas have a life expectancy of just over 86 years, compared to just under 79 years for those in the most deprived areas (source: Health Profiles, life expectancy by deprivation quintile 2004–2008).
8.2.3 Although mortality from ‘all causes’ and the major disease types is generally lower than in England as a whole (Table 8.10.2.1), the rates of death from malignant melanoma in the South West are the highest in England (source:
National Centre for Health Outcomes Development (NCHOD)).
8.2.4 Less than one in five (18%) adults in the South West smoke, with the proportion slightly higher in men (19%) than in women (17%): both groups have seen considerable reductions in prevalence since 2008 (source: Smoking and
drinking among adults, 2009).
8.2.5 In 2009, 24% of women in the South West drank above recommended sensible daily limits (maximum of three units for women and four for men) on at least one day in the week prior to the survey (source: Smoking and drinking
among adults, 2009, p.80), lower than the 29% for England. 34% of males in the South West drank above current recommended sensible daily limits on at least one day in the week prior to the survey, slightly lower than the 37% figure for England.
8.2.6 Obesity has more than doubled since 1993, and it is now estimated that approximately a quarter of the South West’s adults are obese (source: Health Survey for England 2008).
