The UK regions where you’re more likely to get cancer, diabetes AND depression – it’s bad news for coastal areas

People who live by the coast in middle age are more likely to suffer from long-term illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and depression, a study suggests.

These residents are over a fifth (21 per cent) more likely to develop two or more chronic conditions than those who moved away between the ages of 16 and 42.

The ailments also include asthma, backache, hearing loss, high blood pressure, eye disease and heart problems.

Researchers from University College London say being exposed to fresh sea air and beautiful surroundings may boost health by clearing the mind of work stresses and encouraging people to engage in more outdoor leisure activities.

But they note many affluent residents of once thriving seaside towns moved away as they became increasingly rundown.

Meanwhile, youngsters who left home to go to university in larger towns and cities did not return and poorer people moved in the opposite direction, leaving Britons with higher levels of deprivation and associated poor health by the coast.

Professor Stephen Jivraj, whose findings are published in BMJ Public Health, said: ‘Poorer health in coastal communities is not simply due to coastal living itself.

‘Instead, it reflects a combination of higher deprivation and selective migration, where people with worse health are more likely to remain in or move to coastal areas.

‘This suggests coastal regions may need targeted policies and resources to address growing health inequalities.’

Researchers used data from 13,691 people from the 1958 National Child Development Study (NCDS) and 14,683 people from the 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS).

Participants were followed from birth, through adolescence and into midlife.

The study examined whether participants who lived in coastal areas were more likely to have two or more diagnosed chronic conditions by the ages of 55 (NCDS) and 46 (BCS).

Further analysis revealed that migratory patterns were strongly associated with neighbourhood deprivation.

People that grew up in the most deprived coastal neighbourhoods were three times more likely to remain on the coast and still be living there in midlife compared with those who grew up in the least deprived coastal neighbourhoods.

Those moving to the coast from other parts of England and Wales typically moved from less deprived neighbourhoods in childhood to more deprived neighbourhoods in midlife.

Professor Jivraj said: ‘Some evidence suggests that living closer to the coast has protective health effects – such as less pollution and the chance to reduce stress by exploring beautiful, scenic walks.

‘However, the decline of traditional industries, such as tourism and fishing coupled with limited employment opportunities for residents, has led to a concentration of health inequalities in many coastal communities across England and Wales.

‘This is also compounded by the physical barrier of the sea, which can limit transport to education and employment – something that is not experienced by those who live inland.’

As a result of their findings, the researchers are now calling for a targeted focus on improving health and healthcare in deprived coastal communities.

The research does not consider the length of time spent living in a coastal area and does not differentiate between the types of coastal area, such as industrial city ports, holiday villages or fishing ports.

Professor Sir Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, produced a report in 2021 that highlighted coastal communities have some of the worst health outcomes in England.

He wrote at the time: ‘The pleasant environment attracts older, retired citizens to settle, who inevitably have more and increasing health problems.

‘An oversupply of guest housing has led to Houses of Multiple Occupation which lead to concentrations of deprivation and ill health.

‘The sea is a benefit but also a barrier: attracting NHS and social care staff to peripheral areas is harder, catchment areas for health services are artificially foreshortened and transport is often limited, in turn limiting job opportunities.

‘Many coastal communities were created around a single industry such as previous versions of tourism, or fishing, or port work that have since moved on, meaning work can often be scarce or seasonal.’