People in Norfolk are the most likely in the region to exercise and eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. But despite this they feel less healthy than in many other parts of the region.
People in Norfolk are the most likely in the region to exercise and eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
But despite this they feel less healthy than in many other parts of the region. Meanwhile people in Yarmouth and Waveney are some of the unhealthiest in the region.
Three quarters of people in the NHS Norfolk area - which does not include Yarmouth - describe their health as good or very good, compared with 77pc across the region. The Yarmouth and Waveney average was 74pc. More people smoke in Yarmouth and Waveney - 22pc compared with 19pc in the rest of Norfolk - and more are obese - 17pc compared with the Norfolk and East of England average of 14pc. Poor health, smoking, obesity and unhealthy diets are more common in deprived areas, including parts of Yarmouth and Waveney.
Only one in five (22pc) people in the region say they eat five portions of fruit and vegetables every day. And only 46pc take enough physical activity needed to experience health benefits.
In the region 20pc of people drink risky or downright harmful amounts, but in Norfolk and Yarmouth and Waveney the rate is 19pc in both areas. People from higher social classes are more likely to drink above recommended levels.
The survey of 26,290 adults, carried out in the autumn, is the first region-wide survey into the health and lifestyles of people living in the east of England, and will be repeated annually to help the NHS focus on meeting its promises to improve health.
Paul Cosford, regional director of public health, said: 'Levels of inactivity are very high in some sections of the population and the NHS must do more to provide lifestyle support services to those groups. Taking this with the levels of self-reported obesity, we know there is much more to be done in this area.
'The results from this survey give us a very strong message that we must do more to target young smokers. Too many teenagers and young people smoke.'
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