Poll: Should it be up to councils to warn people about alcohol, smoking and obesity
More than 100,000 lives could be saved in England every year if local authorities take early action on issues such as smoking, heavy drinking and obesity, a health service watchdog has said.
One in every three people who dies in England is aged under 75 with two-thirds of these deaths avoidable, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) said.
It has published new guidance for local authorities to tackle the direct causes of early death by addressing lifestyle issues that lead to poor health.
People on low incomes are twice as likely to smoke and almost twice as likely to be obese, while there is up to five times the chance they will die from conditions caused by alcohol misuse such as chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, it said.
Children who live in deprived areas are also at greater risk of being injured in an accident - a leading cause of death in children and young people.
Guidance includes local governments using existing powers to control the number of takeaways in an area and ensuring that catering contracts encourage a balanced diet.
Schools should also help children to develop healthy eating habits, while efforts should be made in supporting people in quitting smoking and reducing their alcohol consumption.
Professor Gillian Leng, deputy chief executive at Nice, said: "Taking early action to tackle issues such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and obesity could save about 103,000 people from dying early each year in England.
"This new briefing pulls together recommendations from a wide range of Nice guidance to help local government use effective practical ways to address the direct causes of illness and early death."
