A new survey commissioned by health bosses in inner-city Bradford has revealed massive health inequalities among different communities.

The Lifestyle Survey carried out on behalf of Bradford City Teaching Primary Care Trust highlights the health of the Bangladeshi community and men aged 18 to 24 to be of particular concern.

Now the trust wants to appoint a Bangladeshi community health development worker, a men's health worker and an additional carers' support worker who speaks Sylhetti - a language of Bang-ladesh - to tackle the problem.

If it fails to appoint these workers the tPCT fears it will lead to even wider health inequalities.

Data were gathered by holding more than 1,500 face-to-face interviews with people who live in the Bradford city centre area.

Questions were asked about their education, employment, housing, perceptions of their general health, what food they ate and whether they smoked, drank alcohol and took part in physical activity.

The findings reveal the Bangladeshi community are the least likely to have qualifications and more likely to experience problems with damp and cold housing. One in ten is underweight.

Forty-two per cent of Bang-ladeshi men smoke, second only to white men aged 18 to 24 of whom half smoke.

Young men were also found to have a poor diet, eating too many takeaway meals.

Dr Sheila Webb, director of public health for the tPCT, who commissioned the survey, said: "This survey gives us a wealth of information, not only about people's diets, physical activity and mental well-being, but also their housing conditions, education and employment.

"All these factors have a bearing on health and can lead to inequalities which currently exist among many communities.

"It remains the case that people living in deprived parts of the city suffer more ill health and on average live shorter lives than those who live in the more affluent areas. The health inequalities are stark but over time, and with a strong community focus, they can be improved so that people can live healthier lives."

Other key findings included:

l significant use of saturated fat in cooking

l high red meat consumption

l significant consumption of processed meats and pies, sugar-rich fizzy drinks and take-away meals

l most people still adding salt when cooking

l smoking levels below the national average though there were high rates in some groups

l low and irregular physical-activity levels.

Mohammed Ajeeb, chairman of Bradford tPCT, said: "The survey confirms many of the concerns we have had about some communities, or sections of those communities, where health inequalities are greatest.

"We need to make real improvements in these areas and give everyone an equal chance of good health and well-being. I'm sure this survey will provide a good platform on which to strengthen our health-inequalities work in the future.

"A number of priorities for action have been identified from the survey and it is planned for these to be shared with our partner organisations, taken forward and implemented once the national review of primary care trusts is complete."