Another depressing thread

The UK, on the whole, is still pretty good re life expectancy so I wouldn’t be overly concerned. I was wondering what Monaco does , probably because it is very wealthy. I am surprised at Hong Kong doing so well because it is very crowded but then very clever people - you can’t beat Chinese medicine. As for Australia, we have always been obsessed with healthy food and diet so maybe it pays off ? One of the first to ban smoking all over the place

There are way more fatter, younger kids today than when I was at school in the 70s twaddle. We didn’t have all the takeaways like they have today.
We also played out way more than they do today.
Fair enough, some older people can be overweight, that’s it, we are older, gone through the change, etc.
I was slim up to late 40s, but two knee injuries soon scuppered that, unfortunately.

nanna8

The UK, on the whole, is still pretty good re life expectancy so I wouldn’t be overly concerned. I was wondering what Monaco does , probably because it is very wealthy. I am surprised at Hong Kong doing so well because it is very crowded but then very clever people - you can’t beat Chinese medicine. As for Australia, we have always been obsessed with healthy food and diet so maybe it pays off ? One of the first to ban smoking all over the place

It's not life expectancy itself which is causing concern, but the length of time people spend in poor health. People are living longer - and being kept alive with modern medicine - but they are spending longer in poor health. Not only do individuals themselves spend many years with sub-optimal health, but it's expensive to treat them. Not only that, but if people of working age are too ill to work, they need to be supported and can't contribute with their own work/wages.

It's concerning that there is an almost 20 year gap between the average healthy life expectancy in the most deprived areas and the most affluent. There is even a stark gap within individual cities, towns and boroughs. This would suggest that there is something about having more comfortable living circumstances which results in better health, despite genetics.

MT62

There are way more fatter, younger kids today than when I was at school in the 70s twaddle. We didn’t have all the takeaways like they have today.
We also played out way more than they do today.
Fair enough, some older people can be overweight, that’s it, we are older, gone through the change, etc.
I was slim up to late 40s, but two knee injuries soon scuppered that, unfortunately.

Young children aren't the concern. Middle-aged and older people are. And you can't get away from the fact that there is such a huge gap between people in different groups. The chances are that if you lived in Richmond-on-Thames, you'd have on average 20 more "healthy" years than if you lived in Blackpool or Middlesbrough. That can't be explained away by going through the change or bad knees.

TerriBull

Does anyone remember Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food Programme, it was ages ago now. He went to one particular town, I can't remember where, to show people how to cook basic meals, how to source the ingredients from market places where they could undercut supermarket prices. There were those who had no idea how to do any of that, it came across as a complete mystery to some of the participants. A basic skill that had somehow passed them by, instead they ordered take aways, quite frequently. I remember him saying something along the lines of "it's not always poverty, but poverty of ideas" A mindset that regarded "Shepherd's Pie" as posh food . I do agree with Sago, a plethora of take aways on most high streets. Many of our grandparents and parents grew up in the Depression of the 30s, followed by the war and rationing. That rationing went on until the early 1950s, somehow they coped they cooked from scratch and had to use some culinary ingenuity with whatever was available to them, which at times was very little. It's generally considered they were healthier than subsequent generations, even if the nation's teeth were awful, possibly their bodies were in better shape. Gyms being relatively unknown outside say the boxing world.

Whilst I believe there are families in dire straits today, we also have to acknowledge diet and sedentary lifestyle, exacerbated by screens is a factor in declining well being and possibly, ultra processed food, drugs/drinks/smoking and vaping all feed into the overall health of the nation.

How many times do we read about the Mediterranean diet being one of the best. Pretty sure that would be a factor as to why people who hail from that part of the world maybe enjoy a greater longevity than those in Britain.

From memory I’m sure that Jamie tried to continue working with the government to help children to eat healthier but Theresa May, when she was PM would have nothing to do with him. We always seem to follow America and I always worried that we would follow them with obesity and it has now happened. Boris Johnson, when he realised his obesity was one of the reasons why he was so ill with covid said he wanted to make the country healthier again but, like most things with Johnson they were just empty words. It must surely start in schools. I’m 74 and have only just learned how to eat healthily and that’s just down to reading things on the internet. Mind you, I do think our awful weather doesn’t help because my appetite always decreases once we get a bit of sunshine.

I don't agree that healthy eating should start in schools. Schools have enough to do without becoming the nation's nanny. Healthy eating should be all around us. There can't be anybody who hasn't been exposed at some stage to healthy eating advice.

Nobody seems to want to address the concerning issue, which is the huge disparity between healthy life expectancy in different areas. It is not just about children eating more healthily.

I have noticed that the people we know who have moved into high rise apartments and downsized all get sick . Every single one of them. Is it lack of exercise or something more sinister like the quality of air in these places ? I am talking about high end luxury apartments that cost an arm and a leg. Not looking for conspiracy theories but there has to be a reason. Maybe youngsters brought up in these sort of places are also at risk.

It's about the vast increase in choices. Choose to pay for phone and TV subscriptions over healthier food. Cars over walking. 'Lifestyle' choices. Fat jabs or boring dieting etc. We were healthier in the past as we had far fewer choices.

UK still good for life expectancy, people are aware of what they should eat and get exercise more than ever and yet lots choose not to. I go into supermarkets and can’t get over the rubbish in trolleys, much cheaper to eat healthily.. Agree with what Aveline said.

Twaddle young children have to be a concern.
They have a head start on becoming obese when they are adults.
We had one fat girl in our year at school. I remember her now.
She used to get left out of things.

PamelaJ1

Twaddle young children have to be a concern.
They have a head start on becoming obese when they are adults.
We had one fat girl in our year at school. I remember her now.
She used to get left out of things.

But obesity isn't the only concern highlighted in the report. There are many other causes of ill health.

Allsorts

UK still good for life expectancy, people are aware of what they should eat and get exercise more than ever and yet lots choose not to. I go into supermarkets and can’t get over the rubbish in trolleys, much cheaper to eat healthily.. Agree with what Aveline said.

How do you explain the 20 year regional gap in healthy life expectancy? If it were that simple, how do you explain that the average for healthy life expectancy for people in the North East is consistently way below that of the South East?

In some areas people drink more, smoke more, take drugs more?
I should also think that living in a run down looking area has a bad effect on people and affects jobs and therefore money, so not going to spend what they have on salads. Where you live must always have had an effect on lives.

Read The Queen And I by Sue Townsend, yes I know it’s fiction and overall funny but there’s a lot of truth in there too.

twaddle

Allsorts

UK still good for life expectancy, people are aware of what they should eat and get exercise more than ever and yet lots choose not to. I go into supermarkets and can’t get over the rubbish in trolleys, much cheaper to eat healthily.. Agree with what Aveline said.

How do you explain the 20 year regional gap in healthy life expectancy? If it were that simple, how do you explain that the average for healthy life expectancy for people in the North East is consistently way below that of the South East?

I reckon it is definitely cultural, but I do remember as a student being told that a particular area in Brighton (a north eastern suburb - sort of tucked away in the fold of the downs - very pleasant outlook) the children were on average 2” shorter than U.K. children.

That is definitely diet.

You are quite right twaddle but obesity leads to many unwelcome conditions and an early start on the unhealthy trail is not good.
I mentioned that my schoolmate was left out of things because of her size.
I wonder how that affected her mental health for example.

I remember my DD coming home from school on her first day full of excitement. 'Guess what we've got in our class Mum? - A fat boy!'. She was genuinely amazed. He was a dear wee boy and very popular but, back then, he was a novelty.

I think there should be a takeaway tax.

This could go some way to helping the NHS and the huge litter problem.

Whitewavemark2

twaddle

Allsorts

UK still good for life expectancy, people are aware of what they should eat and get exercise more than ever and yet lots choose not to. I go into supermarkets and can’t get over the rubbish in trolleys, much cheaper to eat healthily.. Agree with what Aveline said.

How do you explain the 20 year regional gap in healthy life expectancy? If it were that simple, how do you explain that the average for healthy life expectancy for people in the North East is consistently way below that of the South East?

I reckon it is definitely cultural, but I do remember as a student being told that a particular area in Brighton (a north eastern suburb - sort of tucked away in the fold of the downs - very pleasant outlook) the children were on average 2” shorter than U.K. children.

That is definitely diet.

All the data shows that there can be hotspots of deprivation even within generally affluent areas. That's reflected in all sorts of markers, such as height, cardiovascular health, diabetes, etc.

I'm not denying that nutrition is a factor in poor health and that healthy eating starts in childhood. The fact that post-war babies had supplements and national dried baby milk is reflected today in healthier bones of today's adults.

Nevertheless, there are just so many other factors in premature aging, which are not inevitable. For example, somebody mentioned social isolation. It's known that social isolation and loneliness often lead to unhealthy lifestyles, such as over eating (or eating the wrong food), drinking too much alcohol, smoking and taking drugs.

Living in a dangerous environment without pubic footpaths and parks can mean that people are reluctant to go outside for a walk.

Another factor is access to primary healthcare. We all know that it's difficult to get a GP appointment, although these days an increasing number of people pay for a private GP. Some people are reluctant to seek medical advice or be more proactive in pushing for treatment because there is scepticism about medical professionals, inspired by some of the rubbish in social media and because professionals are seen as the "elite". Consequently, serious medical issues are sometimes missed until it's too late to treat them.

Oreo

In some areas people drink more, smoke more, take drugs more?
I should also think that living in a run down looking area has a bad effect on people and affects jobs and therefore money, so not going to spend what they have on salads. Where you live must always have had an effect on lives.

Of course it has an effect! That's the whole point of what I've been writing.

Failure to take up health screening opportunities is a factor I expect. I was very taken back when a person at work quite proudly told me that she didn't do the bowel cancer screening test sent to everyone over a certain age. I demurred but she just said that it was disgusting. Others have refused breast screening as they 'didn't fancy it'! Neither of these tests are pleasant but are important ways of taking responsibility for your own health.

twaddle

Yes, I was outside in the garden this week listening to the children in the neighbourhood enjoying the sun having fun playing football in their garden, whilst mum and dad fired up the barbecue etc.

It occurred to me then (rather depressingly) that there will be children in this country, living in a tatty flat whose parents are too busy to have time to take them out. They have no access to the outdoors to play. They live in the inner city. They will rely on their screens to experience what most children take for granted. No wonder they dont thrive.

One of the worst problems is the car. People drive everywhere even on very short journeys. Children are driven to school.
Hardly anyone was overweight when I was young in the 50s and 60s. Not many people had cars so we had a walk of over a mile to school. After school we could play out as the streets were safe. Now there are too many cars whizzing about to allow children that freedom so they are safe inside watching things on screens.
I do believe lack of exercise from a young age will cause health problems later especially if the diet is poor too.

In our small town we had, until recently, 3 butchers, 2 bakeries, 1 fishmonger, 1 greengrocer and a deli. All selling real, unprocessed food. Now all gone except 1 butcher’s shop. It was mostly the older people using these shops. In recent years, 3 supermarkets have come to the town. The food sold there does not compare to the food that the town shops sold but people buy it as it’s cheaper and convenient. It’s difficult to buy real food now without travelling some distance.

Aveline

Failure to take up health screening opportunities is a factor I expect. I was very taken back when a person at work quite proudly told me that she didn't do the bowel cancer screening test sent to everyone over a certain age. I demurred but she just said that it was disgusting. Others have refused breast screening as they 'didn't fancy it'! Neither of these tests are pleasant but are important ways of taking responsibility for your own health.

I agree with you. There are statistics which show that the uptake of health screening is low in certain communities - both regionally and amongst certain ethnic/demographic groups. It's the same picture for vaccines. Some people are also reluctant to heed medical advice. How do you get round that?