New Research in Britain shows that the class divide is widening  when it comes to health.

The King’s Fund thinktank found that those with no qualifications are five times more likely to smoke, drink, and neglect diet and exercise. While those from the wealthier classes are more likely to shun these bad health habits.

The team analysed data from the NHS’s health survey for England covering four behaviours which are closely linked to disease and early death: smoking, excess alcohol use, poor diet and sedentary lifestyles.

Between them, these four habits are estimated to account for almost half the burden of ill-health in developed countries.

The Guardian reports that the survey found that England’s richest citizens live seven years longer on average than the less well-off.

But when they looked at what types of people were quitting smoking or drinking less, for example, they found that “these reductions have been seen mainly among those in higher socioeconomic and educational groups”.

The researchers found that people with no educational qualifications were more than five times as likely as those with degrees to engage in four key damaging behaviours in 2008, compared with three times as likely in 2003.

Those from poorer backgrounds or with less education are more likely than others to develop long-term conditions such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease earlier and to experience them more severely.