Survey shows smoking on the decline – but drink problems and obesity increase

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THE number of people who smoke in Warrington has fallen significantly – but levels of obesity in adults have risen and the level of unsafe drinking is also rising.
These are the mixed messages from the first annual report of the borough’s director of public health, Dr Rita Robertson, since responsibility for public health passed from the NHS to the borough council.
Dr Robertson says her report is based on a health and lifestyles survey carried out by the council’s public health team last year.
A total of 6, 672 people responded to the survey, giving the council a rich source of information.
She says: “The report celebrates the considerable fall in smoking rates, down to an all time low of 13 per cent in adults.
“Although overall smoking numbers have decreased right across the town, smoking is still much more common among people living in the most deprived areas.”
Actions recommended include targeting children and young people who are taking up smoking, providing more trained associate smoking cessation advisors, including a range of professionals including GPs, pharmacists and school health nurses, who free up specialists to concentrate on more heavily addicted smokers.
More work will also be done in hospitals and other health services.
Levels of obesity in adults are rising at a time when they should be falling. In addition to encouraging cooking courses, walking and cycling instead of using cars or buses and expanding run, swim, cycle and walk provision, the public health team are to work with planners to control the number of hot food takeaways and fast food outlets opening in the borough.
Dr Robertson says the level of unsafe drinking is on the increase. Of those who drink, one in five drink more units per week than is considered safe. Men are more likely to drink to unsafe levels than women, with a quarter of men exceeding the safe level.
But women are catching up. In 2006, 13 out of every 100 women drank to unsafe levels but the figure has now risen to 18.
Women who live in the more affluent areas such as Appleton, Culcheth, Hatton and Walton are more likely to drink to unsafe levels.
A major challenge in Warrington is that alcohol is too cheap.
Dealing with mental well being, Dr Robertson said that a quarter of all people have low levels of emotional wellbeing. People in the more disadvantage areas had the lowest scores while people aged over 65 generally scored higher.
Although most people have high levels of social contact, about eight out of every 100 people said they were often lonely. Among younger men, about 10 in every 100 aged 18-39 said they often felt lonely.
Eight out of 100 people said they found it difficult to manage financially, with five going without food to manage and one in 10 going without heating to make ends meet.
Eleven out of every 100 said they borrowed to cover the cost of everyday essentials and among younger people this figure rose to 20 out of 100.


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Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.

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