Health inequalities are widening. The poorest in our society are hit harder than the well off by most of the major causes of death. In improving the health of the whole nation, a key priority will be better health for those who are worst off. There are sound economic reasons for improving our health. By preventing avoidable illness we can concentrate resources on treating conditions which cannot yet be prevented.
Poor health has complex causes.
Some are fixed - ageing, for instance, or genetic factors. Our priority is to concentrate on the factors which affect people's health, and on which we can all make an impact. These include a range of factors to do with how we all live our lives - diet, physical activity, sexual behaviour, smoking, alcohol and drugs. Social and economic issues play a part too - poverty, unemployment and social exclusion. So too does our environment - air and water quality, and housing.