THERE is no single reason why Glasgow is consistently at the bottom end of life expectancy figures and no single solution either.

As the problem persists and despite many improvements, the gap between highest and lowest has widened - showing there is much work to be done in the city.

The real issue is in the most deprived areas, where the life expectancy rates are even lower and the multiple problems of ill health, poverty, low education attainment and unemployment all combine to create a cycle of deprivation that is hard to break and difficult to escape.

While individual people can be encouraged to take steps to improve health, which the Evening Times backs with the Active 2014 campaign, there needs to be more resources invested in tackling the causes of ill health.

Preventative spending and early intervention is the key, with multi-agency working across the areas of health, education, housing, social care and employment to build on the improvements that have taken place.

Glasgow has made big strides in its health record in recent years, but reports like the latest one on life expectancy and on cancer rates provide an illustration of how far we have to go to catch up with other areas.