Regular consumption of between three and four units a day by men and between two and three units a day for women will not lead to any significant health risk. But men should not drink more than 21 units a week and women no more than 14 units a week. Alcohol consumption varies markedly with social class in women but not in men. Professional women are three times as likely to drink more than the recommended amount than women in unskilled manual jobs. Overweight is associated with raised blood pressure, raised blood cholesterol, non insulin dependent diabetes and low levels of physical activity.
Obesity is also more common in adults employed in manual occupations, particularly in women.
The percentage of people who are overweight or obese is increasing. Over four out of ten men and over one in three women have raised blood pressure but are not receiving treatment. Of those that are treated, one third still have high blood pressure. These levels are high by international standards. CHD and most strokes have a similar cause - a blockage in an artery.