Children growing up in Britain’s poorest neighbourhoods are being condemned to die a decade earlier and spend 20 fewer years in good health than those living just a few miles away, shocking new data has revealed.

The data which shows how a child’s postcode determines how long they will live has been described as a ‘national scandal’ by experts who have called on the government to act.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has seen a copy of the report and has said he will do all he can to ensure no child’s lifespan is “determined by their postcode.”

Professor Mark Mon-Williams, who leads the Born in Bradford research programme – one of the most ambitious health studies in the world – said: “By virtue of your postcode, you are on track to live 10 years less and with 20 years less health. It is awful. We are the sixth largest economy in the world and we have children dying a decade earlier than they should – simply because of where they are born.”

The research, drawn from 600,000 children across two regions of Bradford, is backed by 90 years of historic health data and reveals an unbroken pattern of deprivation and premature death.

Mr Mon-Williams said the findings are a microcosm of the nation, laying bare the UK’s deepening inequality crisis.

“In just one city, we see areas of great adversity alongside areas of great affluence – and the difference is staggering,” he said.

“Children growing up near the Bradford Royal Infirmary can expect 20 fewer healthy years of life compared to those just a few miles away in Wharfdale.”

The Bradford research – often described as the “child of the North” study – involves a vast data network tracking family health, education and environment.

Within the wider 600,000 dataset sits a deeper cohort of 20,000 families followed intensively over two decades. Scientists have collected blood, urine, genetic samples and medical records from mothers and their children, allowing researchers to map in microscopic detail the factors that shape their life chances.

“We’ve followed mothers through pregnancy and their children through childhood,” said Mr Mon-Williams.

“They are born and grow up in economic adversity, and we can now scientifically trace how that affects their bodies, their health and their futures.”

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The study reveals soaring levels of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, mental ill health and poor nutrition in deprived districts – conditions known to cause early death.

“It’s alarming to see the very problems we know are killing people becoming more prevalent,” he warned.

“Obesity has skyrocketed. Cardiovascular disease and diabetes are rising. History tells us these children will die earlier and live with poorer quality of life.”

He added that the crisis was not unique to Bradford but mirrored across the UK – from inner London to post-industrial northern towns.

“This is a microcosm of the whole country. Even within small areas you have extremes of wealth and deprivation side by side – and the outcomes are written in their bodies.”

Mon-Williams said the evidence leaves “no room for doubt” that inequality is costing lives – and warned that failing to act is putting an intolerable strain on Britain’s public services.

“We can trace this straight back to these areas of deprivation,” he said. “Children who aren’t school ready because of poverty grow up to struggle with heart disease and depression. They end up in hospital in middle age and die early. It’s completely unacceptable in this day and age.”

The impact, he said, ripples across the NHS, social care, and criminal justice systems.

“These are the same people ending up in A&E, in prison, in social care. Every system on its knees can trace part of its burden back to the postcode lottery of health.”

He is calling for a national emergency response, uniting government, the NHS, schools, and local authorities.

“The government needs to act. Schools, paediatricians, local authorities — they must work together to break this link between deprivation and death. We are feeding this information into government and the NHS, but it needs to be treated as the emergency it is.”

The Born in Bradford project, launched two decades ago, now forms part of a broader UK network helping policymakers understand how environment, housing, and poverty shape lives.Its stark warning is that unless action is taken, today’s children in deprived communities are “on a fast track to die early.”

“We’ve become numb to it,” said Mon-Williams.

“But by virtue of being born in a particular location, you are on track to live ten years less and spend twenty years more in poor health. It’s appalling – and we can’t look away any longer.”

The researchers say one solution would be to increase activity among children. Recent research shows nearly a third of children – around 2.2 million – do less than 30 minutes of movement a day, while more than half a million primary pupils struggle with basic motor skills that make play and sport difficult.

Professor Andrew Daly-Smith said: “It is time for the Government to act. The health of our children is the worst it has ever been. We need to change the culture of our schools to raise the importance of health and wellbeing – otherwise we will deepen the inequalities embedded within our society.”

Bradford researchers are promoting their flagship JU:MP (Join Us: Move Play) programme – created with the Born in Bradford team – which has already boosted children’s activity by over 70 minutes a week and delivered the largest population-level improvement of its kind in the UK.

Dr Anna Chalkley said: “When children move more, they thrive — physically, emotionally and academically.”

Another success, the Creating Active Schools framework, now adopted by more than 250 schools nationwide, embeds activity into every lesson and lunch break.

“Physical activity improves mental wellbeing, academic performance and social development,” said Dr Eleanor Bryant. “It’s time we recognised movement as a core part of education, not an optional extra.”

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “No child should have their future determined by where they happen to be born. It is my personal mission to close this postcode lottery, so every child can look forward to a happy, healthy life.“

As well as promoting healthier diets, banning energy drinks for under 16s, and investing in health services in working class communities, this government is getting Britain moving.

“We’ve teamed up with Joe Wicks to help kids exercise over the school holidays, while the Education Secretary is getting more children doing sport at school.

“Together, we are working to give every child has the best possible start in life.”