Triple threat of smoking, drinking and weight ‘puts a million in England at risk of early death’
One in 50 people aged 16 or older in England are at risk of an early death because they smoke, drink too much and are overweight, research has found.This “triple threat” increases the risk of diseases such as cancer and diabetes and in some cases means people dying 20 years earlier than they should, a senior doctor has said.About 1 million people in England are living with that threat, an analysis of the Health Survey for England by the charity Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) has revealed.They are the 2.2% of the population who use tobacco, drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week and are overweight or obese, as judged by having a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or more.
However, 10 million – 22% of the population – exhibit two of the three risky behaviours, Ash found, while 33,9 million (73,6%) have at least one risk factor,Prof Sir Ian Gilmore, the chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance, said: “It is staggering that as many as one in 50 adults in England are at a much higher risk of dying because of the combination of tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy food,“Smoking, alcohol and excess weight each significantly increase the risk of serious health problems like cancer, heart disease and liver disease.
When these risk factors are combined, the danger to people’s health is even greater, leading to higher chances of early death and more years in poor health.“Together they create a toxic combination that can lead to long-term disability and early death.”A lifelong smoking habit reduces someone’s life expectancy by about 10 years and grade three obesity – being severely obese with a BMI of more than 40 – does so by a similar amount.The UK’s four chief medical officers recommend that no one drinks more than 14 units of alcohol a week.Gilmore, a former president of the Royal College of Physicians, added: “Although the risks of two or more risk factors are not purely additive, it is likely that smoking, grade three obesity and heavy drinking will reduce life expectancy by at least 20 years.
”Ash also found that:12.7% of people in England (5.9 million) are overweight and drink more than 14 units but do not smoke.5.5% (2.
5 million) are overweight and smoke but drink less than 14 units.1.4% (600,000) smoke and drink more than 14 units but have a normal weight.Caroline Cerny, the deputy chief executive of Ash, said: “The findings are extremely worrying.They provide an insight into the challenges facing the NHS both now and in the future.
”The burden of illness in England is rising due to the ageing and growing population and impact of lifestyle-related conditions linked to smoking, drinking and poor diet.Research by the Health Foundation has found that 9 million more people will be living with conditions such as cancer, diabetes, dementia, kidney disease and depression by 2040.Cerny urged Wes Streeting, the health secretary, to include robust measures to improve public health in the government’s forthcoming 10-year plan for the NHS.They should include targets to cut smoking, alcohol consumption and excess weight, introducing minimum unit pricing of alcohol in England and extending the sugar tax to other unhealthy foods, she said.The Department of Health and Social Care did not comment directly on the findings.
A spokesperson said the 10-year health plan, due next Thursday, would shift the NHS from treatment to prevention,Ministers were committed to tackling obesity through a ban on the advertising of junk food on TV before 9pm and a planned new food strategy, they said,They also cited the tobacco and vapes bill, an increase in the public health grant and an extra £310m for treatment of drug and alcohol addiction as evidence of the government’s action on public health,
England fall to heaviest T20 defeat as Mandhana century sparks India rout
England’s one-sided series against West Indies last month was merely a dress rehearsal: India was always going to be the main show. And so the curtain finally went up on the Charlotte Edwards-Nat Sciver-Brunt era for a Trent Bridge Saturday matinee.The audience, though, went home disappointed after witnessing an England performance akin to The Play That Goes Wrong, bowled out for 113 inside 15 overs, to hand India a 97-run win, England’s heaviest T20 defeat in terms of runs.Edwards’s calling-card has been about transforming England into a side that plays smart cricket and find ways to win. With the honourable exception of Sciver-Brunt – whose 66 from 42 balls was the only contribution of note – this performance failed on both counts
F1: Lando Norris on pole for Austrian GP with Max Verstappen down in seventh – as it happened
Well deserved! The McLaren driver has been dominant all weekend and finishes in style – half a second faster than Leclerc with a time of 1:03.971. It is his first pole in Austria!Giles Richards was at the Red Bull Ring and here is his verdict:For Norris this was just the result he required after his title hopes took a battering when he made the misjudged move against Piastri in Montreal, dropping him to 22 points behind the Australian.At the Red Bull Ring this weekend Norris had insisted his error in Canada had ultimately resulted in a positive outcome, that he and the team emerged stronger now the seemingly unavoidable clash had finally happened.Certainly Norris looked enormously comfortable in qualifying, which has been his achilles heel this season
Lando Norris storms to Austrian F1 GP pole as angry Verstappen slumps to seventh
Lando Norris enjoyed the stirring satisfaction of proving he still has skin in the game in the most emphatic fashion, taking pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix by more than half a second here on Saturday. His show of reinvigorated strength could not have sat in starker contrast than with the frustration and disappointment of Max Verstappen, whose seventh place in what he called an “undriveable” car will only have fuelled speculation about the defending world champion leaving Red Bull.That was addressed by the Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner, after qualifying. “It’s a lot of noise, I think Max gets quite annoyed by it,” he said. “We’re very clear with the contract that we have with Max until 2028
Tomos Williams injury leaves Farrell’s Lions facing race to fill scrum-half slot
The British & Irish Lions are weighing up their scrum-half options after an injury to Tomos Williams that threatens to sideline the Welshman at the busiest stage of the squad’s Australian tour.The head coach, Andy Farrell, said a decision on calling up a replacement would be made on Sunday, with Scotland’s Ben White among the leading contenders to replace Williams at No 9.Williams contributed two tries in a fine all-round performance as the Lions eased to a 54-7 victory over Western Force but tweaked his left hamstring while diving over the line for his second score. It leaves the Lions with only two fit scrum-halves, one of whom – Jamison Gibson-Park – has been managing a strained glute muscle.Farrell said Gibson-Park would be fit to face the Queensland Reds on Wednesday but the Lions will need some cover if Williams is ruled out even for a short period, with Alex Mitchell as the only available option in the position
Western Force 7-54 British & Irish Lions: rugby union – as it happened
Robert Kitson’s match report in PerthThanks for your company, join us again later in the week for the next Lions fixture v Queensland RedsRobert Kitson’s match report in PerthAndy Farrell has some reflections“In some respects the intensity went up, but this is still a newish team and our discipline in first half was an issue. Second half our defence intensity increased and discipline improved. The Force took it to us, they played a tough high percentage game and we kept them in a good position through our poor discipline so made it tough for ourselves.“This was a lot of the lads’ first game, so we’re up and running and we’ll keep pushing it forward. There were some fantastic tries, but the play of the day was Mack Hansen going up and down the field [to set up Mitchell try]
Lions cut loose with eight-try win over Western Force for solid start in Australia
A convincing first tour win for the British & Irish Lions in Australia and plenty for the management to ponder. There was much to admire in the way the Lions unzipped a gallant but outgunned Western Force side, not least the playmaking vision of their fly-half Finn Russell and the youthful energy of Henry Pollock, but this eight-try triumph did come with one uncomfortable caveat.The scrum-half Tomos Williams, one of only two Welshmen on the tour, contributed a pair of tries but was left clutching his left hamstring after completing a brilliant team score in the right corner. With the Lions facing a hectic series of fixtures in the coming fortnight, they may well have to whistle up some emergency cover.The first-half penalty count was also too high but, for the most part, this performance will have alerted the Wallabies to the Lions’ counterattacking potential and collective depth
Free speech target or terrorist gang? The inside story of Palestine Action – and the plan to ban it
Starmer still faces Labour anger over risk of ‘two-tier’ disability benefits
UK politics: Starmer says welfare concessions are ‘common sense’ but dodges funding question – as it happened
Keir Starmer says he ‘deeply regrets’ island of strangers speech
Stephen Kinnock stares into the abyss as he carries can for welfare U-turn | John Crace
No 10 climbs down over welfare bill in move to win over Labour rebels