An in depth research study designed to find answers to key health inequalities in Slough has given a detailed picture of how people in the borough live and think.

Throughout the spring and summer of 2019 the council's public health and leisure teams investigated what residents believe they can do to keep physically and mentally well and prevent poor health in themselves and their loved ones.

The town has high rates of childhood obesity, areas of low immunisations and poor mental health, poor child oral health, sexual health and low rates of physical activity.

The teams interviewed 1,600 residents from across Slough - with 90 per cent saying they would like to eat more healthily and 76 per cent agreeing that exercise was enjoyable.

When it came to annual dental check-ups 72 per cent said that they have one annually and 90 per cent of parents claimed the same for their children.

Data collected will be used to create a leisure strategy for the next five to 10 years, covering parks, open spaces strategy, outdoor gyms and targeted physical activity projects.

Councillor Natasa Pantelic, cabinet member for health and social care, said: “The results from this in-depth research will help the council improve long term public health, as well as produce the leisure strategy for the next five to 10 years. Many programmes and projects to improve our residents’ overall physical and mental health will be developed based on the results of this study. A big thank you to all our residents who took part in this community-led research project, and we look forward to helping you achieve your health and fitness goals.”

For more information, to view the full report or the individual ward profiles, head to https://www.publichealthslough.co.uk/campaigns/health-beliefs/