Decade of Better Health focuses on tackling the five biggest health challenges the city faces over the next decade.
These challenges are identified in the Nottingham Plan to 2020 - a 10 year plan which sets out the vision of what Nottingham should look like in the future. They are:
Smoking, obesity and alcohol related illness rates in Nottingham remain higher than national averages with too many people suffering from ill health unnecessarily and dying younger than they should.
The city's overall target is to reduce the health inequality gap between Nottingham City and England by 70% by 2020.
Achieving a healthy weight
Poor diet contributes to obesity and increases the risk of diseases like diabetes, stroke, cancer and heart disease. In Nottingham more than 6 out of 10 adults are overweight or obese.
Target: Reduce the proportion of overweight and obese adults to the 2000 average levels for England, 60% (baseline 2007: 69%). In real terms this means losing 500,000 pounds (Ibs) by 2020.
Reducing smoking
Smoking is the biggest cause of early death in Nottingham. Over one third of people in Nottingham smoke (39%). That was the UK average smoking rate 25 years ago, so we're sadly lagging behind in terms of quitting the habit.
Target: Reduce smoking prevalence to 20%, which is below the national average (baseline 2008: 39%). This equates to smoking 5 million fewer cigarettes a week.
Reducing alcohol consumption
Nottingham has high rates of alcohol related harm compared to both England and the East Midlands. Nottingham has one of the highest alcohol-related death rates nationally (64 per 100,000 in Nottingham, compared with 47 per 100,000 nationally).
Target: Reduce alcohol related hospital admissions to 1,400 per 100,000 population (Baseline 2007/08: 1,778 per 100,000 population). This means having 1,000 fewer alcohol related hospital admissions in Nottingham.
Increasing physical activity
While levels of physical activity are higher than the national average, less than a quarter of our population claim to undertake the recommended three or more 30-minute long sessions each week.
Target: Increase levels of physical activity to 32% of adults participating in 3 x 30 minutes moderate physical activity per week (baseline 2007/08: 24%). 28,000 people living in Nottingham need to be more active
Feeling better/better mental health
Nottingham has high rates of mental health problems and suicide compared with England. Mental health problems are often linked with deprivation, unemployment, drug and alcohol misuse, which are all issues in Nottingham.
Target: To improve mental health and wellbeing across the city.
