JSNA Healthy Lives

Healthy Lives – Isle of Wight data summary

Our behaviours, personal circumstances and illnesses hugely affect our life expectancy and health. Influences on our health are particularly important before birth and during early childhood. These influences and risk factors continue to accumulate, and their effects build as we move into adulthood. Preventing exposure to these risk factors and reducing inequalities in how these risk factors are distributed among our population, can have a positive impact on our health.

Local public health teams work to both prevent and reduce people’s exposures to risk factors across all stages of life. We commission services which help people reduce their risk factors, for example, smoking. We also work alongside other organisations to provide people with the support they need to make healthy decisions and prevent exposure to negative risk factors in the first place.

This information focuses on

• the risk factors, causes and protective factors which influence our health
• the health inequalities which are evident
• and the potential impact COVID has had   

Data in this summary is correct as at February 2025. The data in this report can be explored further by smaller geographies in the JSNA Healthy Lives data report.

This chapter focuses on the behaviours and lifestyle choices which both adults and children experience. Data is provided from the Global Burden of Disease. This shows that tobacco, high body mass index and dietary risks are the top three risk factors on the Isle of Wight. Data on alcohol, drug misuse and smoking and vaping are then explored. Excess alcohol consumption can contribute to a broad range of illnesses.

These include

• liver disease
• heart disease
• stroke
• high blood pressure
• mental health conditions

Excess alcohol consumption is the sixth largest risk factor for ill health on the Isle of Wight.

Physical activity, healthy diet and overweight and obesity are covered in this report. Including data on children’s and adults’ physical activity levels, the impact of COVID-19 on the UK’s diet and the variation in overweight and obesity in school aged children.

Lastly, this chapter covers key indicators for sexual and reproductive health. Good sexual health encompasses a positive, respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships. It should ensure that sexual experiences are safe, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. In England, the definition of sexual health also includes the provision of advice and services for

• contraception
• termination of pregnancies
• Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Behaviours and Lifestyle Choices for Adults and Children - Full Report

Download the Isle of Wight Behaviours and Lifestyle Choices for Adults and Children - Full Report (PDF, 910 KB)

Maternity and First 1,001 days 

This chapter covers maternity data, including local rates of teenage pregnancy and termination of pregnancy. 

Data on the first 1,001 days (from conception to age two) are also presented. This is a period of uniquely rapid growth. In this time babies’ brains, their sense of self, and their understanding of the world are shaped by their experiences and environments. Sensitive, responsive caregiving including early attachment and bonding during the earliest years of life lay the foundation for later health and wellbeing, the benefits of which last a lifetime. Data to support our understanding of the first 1,001 days includes:

• breastfeeding
• smoking in pregnancy
• alcohol in pregnancy
• obesity in pregnancy

Data on the general fertility rate, low birth weight and pre-term delivery are also provided. 

Maternity and First 1,001 days - Full Report 

Download the Isle of Wight Maternity and First 1,001Days - Full Report (PDF, 269 KB)

Risk Factors for Children

This chapter covers a range of risk factors for children. Protective factors that promote the health and well-being of children and families are vital. Examples of these protective factors are

• good early years development
• good educational outcomes
• having an economically stable home
• having a supportive family

 These factors are hugely influential to the development of children and young people and the life opportunities and health that they will have later in life.

Data on early years development include the development of children at the end of Reception and the inequalities between those who are on free school meals and those who are not. School attendance data is provided, including the rates of various absences and geographical inequalities. This includes the sharp increase in pupil absence since COVID-19. Educational attainment scores are also included in this chapter, as well as those who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET). Child poverty and free school meals data are included in this chapter.

Childhood poverty is known to lead to

• poorer mental health
• lower educational attainment
• poor health outcomes
• premature mortality in adulthood

Children involved in the criminal justice system and data on vulnerable children are also included in this chapter. A wide range of factors influence whether a child is involved with the criminal justice system including their family, their local community and neighbourhood and their engagement in school. Children in contact with the criminal justice system have high levels of mental health needs and a higher risk of suicide than other young people.

Risk Factors for Children - Full Report

Download the Isle of Wight Risk Factors for Children- Full Report (PDF, 450 KB)

This chapter covers unemployment and the inequalities which exist. Work is typically good for an individual’s physical and mental health and wellbeing, and access to local employment and good working conditions can influence the health of a community.

Universal Credit, low pay and poverty (including fuel poverty) are covered. In recent years, there have been sharp increases in the costs of everyday essentials and fuel. National data on the cost-of-living crisis is also provided in this chapter.

The risk of gambling related harm is assessed in this chapter. Problem gambling can have negative impacts on the day-to-day lives of gamblers and those close to them. This can be in terms of resources (e.g. money and debt), physical and mental health and relationships. Gambling data is available, applying national percentages to our local population and assessing the geography of gambling premises.

Serious violence is included in this chapter as it impacts physical and emotional health. It can cause serious impacts on the health, social and economic outcomes of individuals, communities and societies. An individual's involvement in serious violence increases risks of health harming behaviours. For example, higher risk of future violence and reduced prospects in employment, education and wellbeing. 

In 2021, the government published the Domestic Abuse Act, which created a statutory definition of domestic abuse defining domestic abuse where both persons involved are “each aged over 16 and are personally connected to each other, and the behaviour is abusive”. Behaviour is recognised as abusive if it is an incident or pattern of any of the following

• physical
• sexual
• economic
• psychological
• emotional

or any other abusive or violent, threatening, controlling or coercive behaviour.

This chapter provides data from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary on domestic abuse related crime at district level, identifying risk factors associated with domestic violence.

Risk Factors for Adults - Full Report

Download the Isle of Wight Risk Factors for Adults -Full Report (PDF, 468 KB)

 This chapter looks at the levels of vaccination and screening in the population. High vaccination coverage is essential to ensuring population protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. These diseases often lead to serious complications which can include lasting disability and death. Screening can detect people who are at high risk for a health problem but are not experiencing symptoms. Early detection can reduce the intensity of treatment required and improve chances of survival. Therefore, screening is a key public health action as part of wider preventative and healthcare activities.

Data on the eligible population and the uptake of NHS health checks is also included in this chapter. The NHS Health Check programme invites people aged between 40 and 74 for a check every five years to assess and manage their risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes. High uptake is important to ensure that individuals at a high risk can be identified and take appropriate actions to lower their risk of serious conditions which can result in disability or death.

The impact of COVID-19 on these trends is assessed throughout this chapter.

Protective Measures - Full Report 

Download the Isle of Wight Protective Measures - Full Report (PDF, 468 KB)

Good sexual and reproductive health is a key Public Health priority. This joint Health Needs Assessment (HNA) reflects the partnership between the Public Health Teams in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. It shows our commitment to work together to improve sexual and reproductive health across the whole system. This will ensure that all our residents have access to effective, efficient, and fair services.

Download the Hampshire and Isle of Wight sexual and reproductive health needs assessment 2022 (PDF, 5.36MB)

Data correct as at September 2022

The first 1,001 days, that is from pregnancy to age two, is a period of uniquely rapid growth, when babies’ brains, their sense of self, and their understanding of the world are shaped by their experiences and environments. A child’s physical, social, and cognitive development during the early years strongly influences their school-readiness and educational attainment, economic participation and health for the rest of their life. Ipsos MORI explain “Science tells us that a child’s experiences from conception through their first five years will go on to shape their next 50”. This report presents a summary of the key national and local data and evidence supporting the first 1,001 days.

Download the First 1,001 Days Summary Infographic (PDF, 604MB)