Background

People can experience poor health for a number of reasons – it can be due to people’s behaviours or their relationships.

A fact we find upsetting is that Gwent has the highest rate of recorded domestic abuse related crimes in England and Wales. We know that this will have a lasting impact on the health of those affected and the children who may live in those homes.

There are many benefits to physical activity for both your physical and mental health but 36% of people living in Gwent (aged 16+) were active for fewer than 30 minutes the week before being surveyed by us.

Eating a balanced, healthy diet also helps us stay healthy and 76% of Gwent residents (aged 16+) reported eating none or less than five portions of fruit and vegetables the previous day – as recommended by the NHS.

Across the five communities in Gwent, there is inequity that’s just not fair. One way this can be seen is in life expectancy (how long people are expected to live) and healthy life expectancy (predicted years in healthy life at birth).

Males living in the least deprived areas of Gwent are expected to live 6.6 years longer than males living in the most deprived areas.

Females living in the least deprived areas of Gwent are expected to live 6.4 years longer than females living in the most deprived areas.

Males that live in the least deprived areas of Gwent live 12.8 years longer in a healthy life state than males living in the most deprived areas.

Females living in the least deprived areas of Gwent are expected to live 20.5 years longer in a healthy state compared to females living in the most deprived areas.

It’s important that we do all we can to close the gap over the next 10 years.