IN distance it may be just a matter of a few miles, but in life expectancy it is a gaping chasm.
Where you live really matters if you want to stick around on this planet for as long as possible, as we report today on page 4.
That a man living in Southampton can only expect to live for 78 years while a woman in Valley Park lives to 89 on average may not be a shock but is still a damning indictment of the inequalities of our society.
Of course this postcode lottery is really more a question of education and lifestyle than geography.
It is a fair bet that our Mrs Average in Valley Park does not smoke, drink or eat as much unsuitable food as Mr Average in Southampton.
It rather begs the question whether the pleas – in the form of television adverts – by health chiefs imploring us to look after our bodies are reaching the people who need to hear them.
Perhaps more innovative ways are needed to get the message across.
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