Shocking facts about public health

One horrifying statistic in the report by West Sussex Primary Care Trust and West Sussex County Council is that 12 per cent of 14 to 15-year-old boys in the county, and 13 per cent of girls, describe themselves as regular binge drinkers.

In addition, during the last 30 years, the death rate for liver cirrhosis has increased eight fold in men aged 35-44, and seven fold in women.

Alcohol misuse accounts for about one third of accident and emergency attendances, and this rises to 70 per cent during the night, with a growing number of deaths and hospital admissions due to alcohol misuse.

In addition, the obese population in West Sussex has grown by about 400 per cent in the last 25 years and continues to rise with approximately two thirds of the population being overweight or obese.

Increased childhood obesity means that today's children have shorter life expectancy than their parents.

For full story see West Sussex Gazette December 17