Borough "snapshot" paints healthy picture

2.08.48pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 29th Jun 2007

A positive picture is painted in a "snapshot" of health in the borough.

The Richmond upon Thames Health Profile 2007 describes the borough as having "a positive health profile compared to England as a whole". The estimated proportion of physically active adults is one of the highest in England, the report points out. Life expectancy exceeds the national average, with men in the borough living about 2.5 years longer than the England average, which is 76.9, and women living about 1.5 years longer than the average (81.1). The death rate from smoking is lower than the national average. However, around 1 in 6 of all deaths in the borough is due to smoking. The borough also scores well below the national average for adult obesity and for numbers of people registered with diabetes. The profile, described as "a snapshot of health in the area", is funded by the Department of Health and produced annually by the Association of Public Health Observatories. Richmond Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing, Cllr Denise Carr, said:

"Overall this profile gives a positive picture of health in the borough and I am delighted that we score highly in terms of numbers of adults who are physically active. The Council will continue to do everything it can to encourage this trend and a healthy lifestyle among residents. However, the report points out that only one in six adults in the borough is physically active at least five times a week and we will play our part in trying to increase this number. Concerning smoking, although the death rate locally is lower than the national average, the number of deaths in the borough caused by smoking is still shocking. The smokefree law, coming into force on July 1, will have a really positive impact on people's health by protecting them from the effects of secondhand smoke. And I hope those who want to quit the habit will take advantage of the wide variety of support services available."