A RECENTLY published report reveals Bradford has life expectancy, obesity and alcohol-related harm hospital admissions among its statistics that are worse than the national average.

The Local Authority Health Profile published by Public Health England (PHE) reveals a picture of people’s health in the city.

The news comes as Bradford was named as one of the best cities in the UK for affordability if you want to live a healthy lifestyle.

According to Compare My Mobile, a series of cost indicators from gym membership to fresh fruit and vegetables show the city is a good place to live if you want to save on healthy options.

But the PHE report says life expectancy is 9.1 years lower for men and 7.8 years lower for women in the most deprived areas of Bradford than in the least deprived areas.

And in Year 6, 24.3% (1,705) of children are classified as obese, worse than the average for England.

Also worse than the national average are figures for:

  • The rate for alcohol-specific hospital admissions among those under 18. It is 41 per 100,000 of population which represents 58 admissions per year.
  • Levels of GCSE attainment (average attainment 8 score), breastfeeding and smoking in pregnancy.
  • The rate for alcohol-related harm hospital admissions is 772 per 100,000 of population - 3,685 admissions per year.
  • The rate for self-harm hospital admissions is 216. This represents 1,171 admissions per year.
  • Estimated levels of smoking prevalence in adults (aged 18-plus) and physically active adults (aged 19-plus).
  • The rate of new cases of tuberculosis.
  • The rates of violent crime (hospital admissions for violence).
  • Under 75 mortality rate from cardiovascular diseases.
  • Under 75 cancer mortality rate.
  • Employment (aged 16-64).

Areas where the city is better than the national average are for the rates of new sexually transmitted infections, killed and seriously injured on roads and the rate of statutory homelessness.

The report is designed to act as a ‘conversation starter’, to help local government and health services understand their community’s needs, so that they can work together to improve people’s health and reduce health inequalities.

Bradford is one of the 20% most deprived districts/unitary authorities in England and 23.2% (29,390) of children live in low income families.

The healthy affordability data by Compare My Mobile reveals the cost of living for a variety of products and services for the top 100 UK cities.

Bradford is almost three times cheaper than the most expensive city for fitness, Royal Leamington Spa. The average monthly gym fee in Bradford is £19.77, the second lowest in the country to Barnsley, while it costs £56.25 in Royal Leamington Spa.

Tennis court rental for an hour at the weekend is £6.20 in Bradford compared to £8.93 in Leeds.

According to Compare My Mobile's new Cost of Living Comparison Tool, other healthy options like fresh fruit and vegetables are also cheaper to buy in the city compared to neighbouring Leeds.

The tool allows you to find out the average price of goods and services in your city and compare this to a city of choice revealing where you may be spending more or making savings.