The top five health problems in Newcastle are all linked to poverty - but all of them can be improved, health officials say.
Figures show that 38% of children in the North East are living in poverty, which rises to 47% in a household with a child under five years old.
According to the city's annual health report, the top five long-term illnesses burdening residents of Newcastle are; high blood pressure (affecting 13.6%), depression (12.3%), obesity (12.1%), pre-diabetes (7.2%), and diabetes (7.1%). As of 2020, Newcastle was among the top ten places in England with the highest levels of anti-depressant being prescribed.
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Newcastle City Council's interim director of public health Lorna Smith said: "All of them are socially patterned by poverty, all of them are preventable and all of them can be improved with evidence-based health behaviours.
"The focus of this is physical activity, smoking, alcohol and nutrition. We can prevent these illnesses, we can improve outcomes for people who have them."
With regards to depression, the annual report stated: "While depression may seem potentially set apart from other common causes of illness, evidence-based interventions to treat depression include many of the same risk factors and treatments alongside more specific talking therapies and medication used in moderate and severe cases. These include regular physical activity such as walking outdoors, reducing levels of alcohol, stopping smoking and having a healthy diet."
The report continued: "Physical activity uniquely offers both short- and long-term physical and mental health benefits, improves social connectedness and is a highly effective treatment for many common conditions such as obesity, depression, and diabetes."
The interim director of public health Ms Smith recommended the council prioritise preventative action and help more people engage in exercise.
Other recommendations included improving public engagement and health data analysis to shape health interventions.
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