The London boroughs with the longest and shortest life expectancy have been revealed in a major new study.
The research for Mayor Sadiq Khan showed a stark disparity in the health and well-being of Londoners based on where they live. Barking and Dagenham has the shortest life expectancy where the average is 77.5 years for men and 81.8 years for women. Next was Tower Hamlets with an average of 78.4 years for men and 82.4 years for women, according to the study.
Kensington and Chelsea, one of the wealthiest areas in the capital, has the longest life expectancy of the 32 London boroughs.
The research found women in the borough live to an average age of 86.4 years, while men live to 83.4.
Residents in wealthier boroughs including Richmond upon Thames, Westminster and Harrow also had longer life expectancies compared with the rest of London. The study was released as Sadiq Khan set out plans to tackle the disparity in health across the capital, currently the worst in the UK, and help Londoners become healthier.
Key focuses include early years support, mental health, healthy places including London’s streets and homes, community health and tackling obesity as well as alcohol and drug use.
Mr Khan said: “Leading a healthy life should not be determined by where you live — it is unacceptable that a person’s wealth, background and postcode have such a major impact on their overall health.”
Experts have found that poor air quality and poor mental health disproportionately affect people on lower incomes and contribute to lower life expectancy and increased years lived in ill health.
The research also found that London’s suicide rate has increased by a third from 7.8 per 100,000 people in 2014 to 10.4 per 100,000 in 2015.
Professor Yvonne Doyle, regional director for London at Public Health England, who is also a health advisor to the Mayor, said: “here are wide variations in health and healthy life expectancy across the capital due to a diverse range of issues.
“This needs action from different agencies to change the current pattern of early mortality, build healthier communities and support the people who need most help.”
