Mortality statistics (PDF) released today by the UK's Office of National Statistics make grim reading. Eight out of 10 local authorities in the UK with the lowest male life expectancy for 2001/03 were in Scotland. Glasgow comes out worst, with an average life expectancy of only 69.1 years - the only place in Britain below 70. And the next two places did little better - Inverclyde (70.2) and West Dunbartonshire (70.8) - two areas down the Clyde from Glasgow - were second and third.
As a Scottish male born in Glasgow and raised nearby I'm obviously somewhat concerned, although moving to London might improve my chances of seeing a reasonable retirement. Perhaps I should move to East Dorset, where men manage 80.1 years - fully 11 years more than those in my native city.
National Statistics don't offer up any reasons for Scotland's disastrous performance. But I'd bet our passion for deep fat-fried food - a love of fried pizza is burned into my genes - might have something to do with it...
