Life Expectancy.....

[ToraToraTora]

Just watching newsnight, apparently people living in Newcastle have, on average, 15 years less life than those in Kensington. Why would that be?

[Old_Geezer]

Nothing to live for ?

[ladybirder]

You obviously don't know anyone from Newcastle LOL.

[Psybbo]

Well my geordie aunt is 95

[ladybirder]

One of my best friends is from Newcastle. She looks 95 but is only about 40. Oh boy she knows how to party.

[factor-fiction]

Lots of factors. These may sound stereotypical to some but aren't meant to be.
- Hereditary factors
- the link is more to do with poverty and lifestyle than location
- generally healthier life styles in terms of exercise and diet. More obese people in Newcastle
- fewer heavy drinkers and smokers in Kensington
- more affluent people can afford private healthcare
-more deaths due to unlawful killings and suicides in Newcastle
- fewer teenage and unplanned pregnancies in Kensington (planned children in a secure environment are more likely to live a healthy lifestyle)
....

[Jeza]

People living in Kensington are rivh and can afford the best of everything, doctors, dentists, food etc. Most people in Newcastle are working class and do not have the money to afford the best of everything.

[factor-fiction]

I think money is a factor but not only one- it's about looking after yourself and others too. There are many many people in Newcastle who have perfectly adequate incomes

[Baldric]

It's grim oop North!

[naomi24]

Because the people in Kensington take care of themselves?

[boxtops]

It gets worse if you go north of Newcastle, too :-(

[vernonk]

Q: What is a crèche?

A: a car collision in Kensington.

[murraymints]

Ail harve yoo know..we air quite porsh in Edinburgh !

[lady-janine]

newcastle and kensington? they be upcountry places. us don't know about them.

[emmie]

not everyone is rich in Kensington, nor i expect are areas in Newcastle down at heel, but it could be diet, lifestyle, some live their lives as though there is no tomorrow, and that doesn't just apply up north.

[slaney]

There is indeed a north/south divide when it come to life expectancy. The most recent figures from the ONS published last October show a difference of 7-9 years (not 15 years) between best and worst -

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-health4/life-expectancy-at-birth-and-at-age-65-by-local-areas-in-england-and-wales/2010-12/stb-life-expectancy-at-birth-2010-12.html

And a map -

http://www.bmj.com/highwire/filestream/671762/field_highwire_fragment_image_l/0.jpg

The differences, as others have said, are partly due to lifestyle factors such as diet and smoking, and partly due to socioeconomic factors such as deprivation.

[emmie]

they should have a look at the capital as a whole, lots of very deprived areas, parts of Kensington are ok, but there are loads of places where it isn't nice at all. I do think that lifestyle plays a large part, then again have a mosey around any shopping mall down this way and you will see many over large individuals, who don't stint on the burgers, fries, coca cola, sadly the children seem to be suffering with this as well.

[Misky]

We just say things like that, to try and stop southerners coming up here to live.