SOUTHEND men have seen one of the largest falls in life expectancy in the past ten years, new government data has revealed.

Figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) have shown that life expectancy, when measured in months, has decreased significantly especially for Southend and Basildon men.

Southend men from the three-year period ending in 2013 to the same period ending in 2022 have seen a drop in life expectancy of one year and seven months.

Basildon men’s life expectancy for that ten-year period dropped by one year.

Women tend to live longer than men with a national life expectancy of 83.9 from 2020-2022 compared to 78.9 for men.

Southend and Basildon women had negligible drops in life expectancy, both under a year.

Krishna Ramkhelawon, director of public health at Southend Council, said: “While there was a decline in male life expectancy from 2014 to 2017, we saw improvement from 2017 to 2020, coinciding with increased participation in health checks and more people quitting smoking.

“Unfortunately, the Covid pandemic disrupted this progress from 2020 to 2022, potentially leading to increased mortality from cardiovascular diseases, respiratory illnesses, and cancers due to reduced access to preventive services.

“A drop in male life expectancy is influenced by several factors including deprivation in certain communities. Deprivation is linked to health issues like heart disease, respiratory problems, cancer, and diabetes.

“Smoking, obesity, and lack of physical exercise contribute to these poor outcomes. However, we're actively working with partners to address these challenges.”

Other south Essex regions saw drops for men including Rochford and Castle point at seven months and eight months respectively.

Notable drops were seen in Thurrock and Brentwood at two years and one year and three months.

Mr Ramkhelawon added: “Data reveals that men tend to not engage early in preventive health services, but recent programmes such as lung health checks and prostate screenings are targeting high-risk groups.

“We're also boosting participation in programs like NHS Health Checks and diabetic clinics.

“Although male healthy life expectancy is lower than the East of England average across Mid and South Essex, we're working to improve outcomes.

“By focusing on prevention, encouraging healthier lifestyles, and collaborating with our partners, we aim to reverse this trend and ensure a healthier future for men in Southend."

For the full government data visit bit.ly/3w1hyo7.