Is Southport damaging your health?

[Hector]

https://www.theguardian.com/society/...th-report-says



English coastal towns have some of country’s worst health, report says

Prof Chris Whitty’s report finds resorts have low life expectancy and high concentrations of chronic disease

[Blackrock]

https://www.theguardian.com/society/...th-report-says



English coastal towns have some of country’s worst health, report says

Prof Chris Whitty’s report finds resorts have low life expectancy and high concentrations of chronic disease

Possibly, but I've no doubt that if he looked hard enough at other areas such as Bradford or Manchester or other similar inner city areas, he would no doubt find reasons not to live there as well. I doubt whether most of us can afford to move to one of the 'better' areas anyway.

[Hector]

Possibly, but I've no doubt that if he looked hard enough at other areas such as Bradford or Manchester or other similar inner city areas, he would no doubt find reasons not to live there as well. I doubt whether most of us can afford to move to one of the 'better' areas anyway.

Growing up in Southport I got lots of Vitamin D3 from Ainsdale beach and plenty of exercise from the sea and the sand dunes. Coastal towns must (or is it once did?) have heaith benefits.

[Alikado]

The downside of Coastal Towns is they attract the unhealthy, many older people retire to the coast, as many coastal towns have declined over the years there is often a lot of cheaper / substandard accommodation available which attracts the under privileged who often have more health needs. The healthy often move away from coastal towns seeking to make their fortunes in the larger towns and cities as the employment prospects and pay are far greater than the seasides which dominated by hospitality and seasonal work.

[said]

The downside of Coastal Towns is they attract the unhealthy, many older people retire to the coast, as many coastal towns have declined over the years there is often a lot of cheaper / substandard accommodation available which attracts the under privileged who often have more health needs. The healthy often move away from coastal towns seeking to make their fortunes in the larger towns and cities as the employment prospects and pay are far greater than the seasides which dominated by hospitality and seasonal work.

Towns and cities are far more built up. There is more traffic pollution, more pollution from Central Heating units, Air conditioning etc., that is unable to escape freely due to the number of buildings. The warm air rises. As it meets obstructions like buildings, it will flow up the outside of these buildings, and as it meets cooler air at the top of high rise buildings it will fall back to the ground. Holding any pollution and germs closer to the ground.

Southport town itself has become more polluted due to the increase in private dwellings as opposed to retail and municipal buildings, that has led to an increase of associated traffic. Southport has also a number of taller buildings that trap air. This is evident around the old Mac Donald's building on Eastbank Street where there are several tall buildings, the air gets trapped creating a vortex.

Psychologically, the open waterfront creates the feeling of freedom, allowing people to feel more relaxed and contented. But if you are looking for 'Healthy' options - head for the hills. Sheffield is reputed to be one of the healthiest places to live in the UK as it is built on seven hills. In North Wales, you can immediately feel the cleaner air.

[Ceam]

If it is the rest of the country is stuffed.

[bensherman]

Since we moved here my wife has been free from asthma episodes, which were quite frequent when we lived in the Thames Valley.
The air is clean and fresh.
The figures probably reflect the age of the population and some pockets of poverty.

[Kippax]

I was born here, grew up here and am still here.

Having worked all over the UK, I can honestly say I’m always glad to get back home, although Southport has changed over my lifetime, not always for the better, believe me, there are far worse places to live and raise a family.

[Hamble]

Not the place.
Southport is a really healthy place to grow up even without comparison to an inner city.


Poor health and low income comes to live in Southport Blackpool and similar seaside places due to the accommodation on offer.

People stuck in this gap do not usually escape more often get poorer if the wider economy suffers.

[local]

I wonder if any study will ask the awkward questions of residents health choices.

Being poor doesn't stop you from keeping your weight down.

It should stop you from smoking and consuming alcohol.

It doesn't stop you from exercising whichever bits work well enough.

It is quite expensive to live off fast junk food and smoke.

It's expensive to get fat.

Educational standards seem to be the issue.

[Alikado]

I wonder if any study will ask the awkward questions of residents health choices.

Being poor doesn't stop you from keeping your weight down.

It should stop you from smoking and consuming alcohol.

It doesn't stop you from exercising whichever bits work well enough.

It is quite expensive to live off fast junk food and smoke.

It's expensive to get fat.

Educational standards seem to be the issue.

Being poor often doesn't help, it is easy to say that you could buy the ingredients of a nutritious meal for a few shillings but the problem is a lot of poor people don't have the resources to cook it nor the confidence or ability either. Many of the flats / bedsits / HMOs at the lower end of the market don't have kitchens with fridges or cookers leaving people reliant on ready meals etc which again at the lower end are the less healthy options. The poverty spiral again continues because of the lack of fridges they are unable to enjoy the benefits of buying larger quantities or utilise 3 for 2 offers etc as the produce wouldn't keep.
Alcohol & tobacco are readily available at knockdown prices with bootleg options widespread.
It is not expensive to get fat but poverty is a trap.

[jamyramy]

only gripe is its sad economic ,and once abundant free to use enviroment,reckon its probably one of those rare oasises ,we get the last of winters worsts,clean air and doorstep access to natures bests,and easy travel distance to big citys draws.if the local populace wasgiven more say it could return to its golden years grace.

[said]

Since we moved here my wife has been free from asthma episodes, which were quite frequent when we lived in the Thames Valley.
The air is clean and fresh.
The figures probably reflect the age of the population and some pockets of poverty.

I found Thames Valley very polluted, less so on the South East coast, but I found the pollution far greater in The City of London, where there are some of the wealthiest people and a younger population. Air pollution reduces life expectancy.

[Hamble]

Being poor often doesn't help, it is easy to say that you could buy the ingredients of a nutritious meal for a few shillings but the problem is a lot of poor people don't have the resources to cook it nor the confidence or ability either. Many of the flats / bedsits / HMOs at the lower end of the market don't have kitchens with fridges or cookers leaving people reliant on ready meals etc which again at the lower end are the less healthy options. The poverty spiral again continues because of the lack of fridges they are unable to enjoy the benefits of buying larger quantities or utilise 3 for 2 offers etc as the produce wouldn't keep.
Alcohol & tobacco are readily available at knockdown prices with bootleg options widespread.
It is not expensive to get fat but poverty is a trap.

People without means or prospects to earn are housed in seaside towns with even less prospects should their situations change in the future.

[said]

Being poor often doesn't help, it is easy to say that you could buy the ingredients of a nutritious meal for a few shillings but the problem is a lot of poor people don't have the resources to cook it nor the confidence or ability either. Many of the flats / bedsits / HMOs at the lower end of the market don't have kitchens with fridges or cookers leaving people reliant on ready meals etc which again at the lower end are the less healthy options. The poverty spiral again continues because of the lack of fridges they are unable to enjoy the benefits of buying larger quantities or utilise 3 for 2 offers etc as the produce wouldn't keep.
Alcohol & tobacco are readily available at knockdown prices with bootleg options widespread.
It is not expensive to get fat but poverty is a trap.

It has been said that the population was healthiest during and after the last World War when food was rationed. There was great poverty then. As Local says, it is a lack of education that gives rise to ignorance of healthy living. You do not need a fridge - not if you are living on fresh foods from the farms. Milk and butter can be kept in a hole in the ground, a bucket full of soil, concrete blocks etc., covered with straw.

Go camping for three months - you soon learn that there is more to life than trying to impress friends. Or go on holiday to India - and come back and tell me there is poverty in the UK.

There is no abject poverty in this country. Welfare Benefits are at the highest level they have ever been, wise people can live well of it. Or are you referring to Relative poverty, where there is insufficient money to buy the latest Gucci suits, or wall to wall theatres, etc.,? Relative poverty is the cause of dissatisfaction leading to obesity and depression and which is linked to a lack of understanding the practicalities of life.