These are the findings of the latest survey into the state of our health.

Officials say that while more of us are giving up smoking and cutting down on alcohol, the figures are still too high. Among the findings are that:

>>> More than a quarter of people in Gosport smoke

>>> There are more smoking-related deaths in the town than the national average

>>> Gosport has the worst rate of early cancer-related deaths in the area

>>> The town has the highest teen pregnancy rate locally

Despite warnings about the dangers of smoking and binge-drinking the NHS says the message is still not getting through.

Now Dr Imogen Stephens, from the Portsmouth City Teaching Primary Care Trust, is urging residents to take more responsibility.

She said: 'Reduced life expectancy is related to poor lifestyles and early deaths from chronic conditions, many of which are related to lifestyle.

'In order to speed up any improvement in life expectancy and general health we need to address factors such as obesity, physical activity, healthy eating and smoking in particular. It is important to note things are no longer worsening.

'People's lives are in their hands.'

While Gosport suffers from poor health it's a different story in Fareham where people live longer – 80 years for men and 83 years and five months for women, compared to 77 for men and 81 years for women in Gosport.

Fewer people in Fareham die early from heart disease or stroke in the borough than elsewhere in our area.

Smoking-related deaths in Portsmouth are still above the national average and the highest in our area.

Men die younger in Portsmouth than anywhere else in our area at an average of 76 years four months

And early deaths for heart disease and stroke in Portsmouth are above the England average.

Dr Stephens added: 'People could be doing far more to look after themselves by eating plenty of fruit and vegetables and reducing their alcohol intake to below the recommended maximum daily intake.

'A lot of the problem is caused by people drinking to the recommended limit because they think that is ok.

'A diet should always be balanced and should contain a wide range of foodstuffs.'