Kentish Express Ashford & District
Obesity and smoking ‘will cost community millions’
Fears that bad habits will leave taxpayers picking up the bill
Health chiefs have warned that unhealthy lifestyles will cost taxpayers and businesses in Ashford millions of pounds because of ballooning obesity and smoking rates.
Reports presented to Ashford’s Health and Wellbeing Board last week highlighted how the lifestyles of residents are getting worse.
The grim findings followed reports in March where the board admitted the “depressing” health inequalities between rich and poor residents in the town were among the worst in Kent.
Members of the board were particularly worried about the 5% increase in adult smoking rates in Ashford between 2013 and 2014, and the 42% smoking rate among those working in routine and manual jobs.
A report by KCC Public Health expert Deborah Smith estimates that 25,000 adults are regular smokers in the borough, costing £39.8 million a year.
Her report found that each year firms will lose £8 million in sick days, £3 million in sick pay, and £19.7 million in loss of productivity due to cigarette breaks.
Meanwhile the number of fat children and adults in the borough are both above the national average, with 67.5% of adults classed as overweight or obese.
The board has agreed two plans to get smokers to stub out the cigarettes and to get overweight residents to adopt healthier lifestyles. It will target workplaces for routine and manual workers in the town, including at industrial estates such as Ellingham Way, Cobbs Wood and Henwood.
Efforts will be focused on residents in Stanhope, South Ashford, South Willesborough, Highfield, Godinton Park, Park Farm and Washford Farm.
The smoking action plan will focus on cutting smoking during pregnancy and the trade in black market tobacco. It will also aim to promote e-cigarettes and Kent Quit packs.
The obesity action plan aims to boost training for front line public services staff such as youth and children’s centre workers, social care workers, GPs, and elderly care workers.
For more information about public health in Ashford, visit www.ashford.gov.uk/ashfordhealth-and-wellbeing-board.
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