Health and Social Class How Health and Social class are related in the UK

How do we know what causes ill health? There are big differences in the health of different social classes There are big differences in the health of different social classes Wealthier people have better health in general Wealthier people have better health in general Education, lifestyle and geography are factors Education, lifestyle and geography are factors The Black Report and Acheson Report has shown this The Black Report and Acheson Report has shown this

Diet Scotland is the unhealthiest country in the world Scotland is the unhealthiest country in the world 2 million children in the UK today cannot afford to eat healthily 2 million children in the UK today cannot afford to eat healthily Lower classes cannot afford to buy healthy food Lower classes cannot afford to buy healthy food

Cancer Rates Men 334 per 100,000 compared to per 100,000 compared to 296 Drumchapel/Bearsden - More than twice as likely to die from lung cancer Drumchapel/Bearsden - More than twice as likely to die from lung cancerWomen 3 times more likely to die from breast cancer 3 times more likely to die from breast cancer

Reasons For Cancer Age Age Genetic make-up Genetic make-up Diet Diet Day-to-day environment Day-to-day environment Work place hazards – Asbestos Work place hazards – Asbestos Natural & man-made Radiation – UV Lights and the sun Natural & man-made Radiation – UV Lights and the sun Lack of exercise Lack of exercise

Use and abuse Lower social class higher rate of disease Lower social class higher rate of disease Lung cancer in professional males 43 Lung cancer in professional males 43 Lung cancer in unskilled manual males 178 Lung cancer in unskilled manual males 178 Reasons: can’t afford entertainment Reasons: can’t afford entertainment Quick fixes Quick fixes

Occupation Some jobs have health risks Some jobs have health risks For example people working in manufacturing or construction jobs are more likely to suffer from back problems For example people working in manufacturing or construction jobs are more likely to suffer from back problems High powered jobs have less physical health risks High powered jobs have less physical health risks Upper classes are more likely to have high powered jobs Upper classes are more likely to have high powered jobs

Geography More well-off people are more likely to live in good quality housing More well-off people are more likely to live in good quality housing 3.4 times more likely to die before the age of 65! 3.4 times more likely to die before the age of 65! Divide between Glasgow city and Bearsden Divide between Glasgow city and Bearsden

Conclusion The lower the social class of a person in the UK is, the more likely they are to have poor health