MANY Dorset residents are continuing unhealthy habits – with health professionals finding it more difficult to get their message across.

Figures show that some are increasingly resistant to change with the numbers of those who complete drug, smoking and alcohol courses declining.

Across the county we are getting fatter and dying younger.

For women the number of problem drinkers continues to increase, with a rise in hospital admissions for alcohol-related conditions - up from 409 to 437 over a year. Most are aged between 40 and 64. Men are still more likely to be admitted for an alcohol-related problem, but their numbers have remained static, at 690, over a year.

Health inequality is also increasing – while people in Dorset generally live longer lives compared to the England average, the differences between better off and deprived communities is increasing, with a six year difference for men, compared to nine years nationally, and 5.2 years for women, compared to seven nationally.

“The local trend in Dorset is towards growing inequality, whereas nationally it is reducing. This is particularly true for males with an increase from 5.4 years to six between 2015 and 2016,” said a report due to go before the October 10 meeting of the county’s people and communities overview and scrutiny committee.

The report concludes: “These inequalities may reflect poor access to, or take-up of services, social isolation and poor health in general.”

Statistics from the report show that alcohol treatment service clients are doing less well when offered help – the percentage of successful alcohol treatment service completions fell from 46% to 44%.

For young people on substance abuse courses the chances of completion has fallen from 88% to 53%.

Smokers are also doing less well at completing courses in the county, figures show.

Councillors will be asked to consider whether more could be done, and what strategies might be initiated to improve the county’s health.