MEN in Breightmet are some of the unhealthiest in the borough – with figures suggesting they are most likely to binge drink, self-harm and not eat enough fruit and vegetables.

A report published this month highlights health issues for men living in Bradshaw, Breightmet, Little Lever, Darcy Lever and Tonge with the Haulgh in the east of Bolton.

The analysis identifies alcohol abuse, smoking poor nutrition, mental illness and cardiovascular disease (CVD) as major concerns.

In Breightmet – the most deprived area of east Bolton – half of men admitted to binge drinking while in Little Lever and Darcy Lever that figure was 41.3 per cent.

With the exception of Tonge with the Haulgh, men in east Bolton binge drink – defined as drinking more than eight units of alcohol any day, every week – more than the Bolton average of 37 per cent.

The report, compiled by public health intelligence officer Chris Kirk, states: “Areas such as Breightmet and the more deprived areas around the town centre do experience the greatest degree of harm – hospital admissions and premature death – from alcohol.”

Across Bolton just 17 per cent of residents say they manage to eat their five a day and for men in Breightmet that figure is just 11 per cent – the lowest in east Bolton.

CVD, which includes conditions such as heart disease and strokes, accounts for one in three of all deaths in Bolton; more than any other disease.

Breightmet has the highest rate of men with high blood pressure – not only in the east of the borough, but across the whole of Bolton – at 42 per cent.

CVD is also the chief cause of Bolton’s internal life expectancy inequality – which means a baby boy born to the borough’s most deprived families is expected to live 11 years less than one born in the most affluent areas.

Mental illness is reported to be experienced by almost one in four people in Bolton and in some parts of Breightmet and Tonge with the Haulgh, the rate of which new self-harm cases are occurring is more than 200 per cent higher than Bolton’s average.

Tonge with the Haulgh reports the highest levels of smoking in east Bolton, with one in three men regular smokers.

One of the initiatives launched to combat men's health in Breightmet is the Men in Sheds project.

It is open to all males to join, but particularly welcomes the elderly or those who have had time in hospital and need to build confidence and meet new people.

The wellbeing programme started in Australia before Age UK brought it over to the UK and Bolton at Home took on the initiative, which has been part-funded by Warburtons Bakery, in January.

Men from the age of 28 to 80 attend the weekly session on Thursday between 10am and 1pm, using donated tools, held at the Lancashire Wildlife Trust (LWT) in Bury Road, Breightmet.

The group currently has about 15 men that attend the sessions.

The project is aimed at encouraging retired or isolated men to learn new skills and socialise.

It has been praised by the NHS in a report which discussed the need for improvements in schemes aimed specifically at men's health in Europe.

Across Bolton an average of one in five of the adult population smoke, and ten people in the borough die each week from smoking-related illnesses.

The report has been published by Bolton’s Health Matters, a partnership between Bolton Council and Bolton NHS, and is based mainly on data from the Bolton Health and Wellbeing Survey that was last undertaken in 2010 but is due to be done again this year.

Annette Walker, chief finance officer at NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “We are very much aware of health inequalities between different areas of Bolton. It is concerning that we have a 13 year gap in life expectancy between different parts of the town, less than five miles apart. Some of the conditions that make the biggest contribution to this are heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, and alcohol related problems.

“Reducing these inequalities is a top priority for NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group, working with our partners and healthcare providers.

“The key is to address lifestyle issues that affect many people, but are more prevalent in some areas than others, like smoking, weight, diet, alcohol, and exercise. We have been working hard in this area for some time, with initiatives such as the Big Bolton Health Check and our Preventing Diabetes Project.”