Infographic: What makes us healthy?

Our series of infographics, accompanying blogs and commentaries aim to describe and explain the social determinants of health in an accessible and engaging way.

These determinants include political, social, economic, environmental and cultural factors which shape the conditions in which we are born, grow, live, work and age. Creating a healthy population requires greater action on these factors, not simply on treating ill health further down stream.

The first infographic shows the extent to which health is primarily shaped by factors outside the direct influence of health care and invites us to look at this bigger picture. It also highlights the gap of over 18 years in healthy life expectancy between people living in the most and least deprived areas of England – a gap that is explained not by our ability to see a doctor, but by differences in our experience of the things that make us healthy including good work, education, housing, resources, our physical environment and social connections.

In a companion blog, Sir Michael Marmot, director of the Institute of Health Equity at University College, London describes how poor social conditions give rise to what he terms ‘an epidemic of disempowerment’, and he illustrates this through the life of Glasgow-born ‘Jimmy’ whose experiences of disadvantage across the life course lead to his poor health and the risk of an early death. He also outlines six areas for action on the social determinants of health to improve the opportunities for people like Jimmy and help close the health gap.

In eight further infographics we explore with eye-catching facts, statistics and quotes how different social determinants influence our health. Alongside each are supporting blogs and interviews to capture both expert insights and the lived experience of people. These themes are:

• our surroundings
• education and skills
• housing
• the food we eat
• money and resources
• transport
• family, friends and communities
• good work.

By communicating useable data, information and concepts in a fresh and engaging way, we aim to stimulate a wider conversation about the social determinants of health. By presenting these infographics in sharable formats, we also hope that they will be a useful new resource to other organisations working to improve health. Edit page

References

• The relative contribution of multiple determinants to health outcomes. McGovern L, Miller G, Hughes-Cromwick P. Health Policy Brief: Health Affairs. 21 August 2014.
• Wealth of Nations. Adam Smith.1776
• Health state life expectancies by national deprivation deciles, England and Wales: 2015 to 2017. Office for National Statistics. Available here.