The rise in obesity rates is a concern to health professionals

People from different organisations are meeting for the first time at a conference in Windermere, in the Lakes.

Organisers have included all the people and services involved in public health, not just those in the medical field.

Regional director of public health John Ashton said it was important to address factors which cause ill health.

Mr Ashton said: "We have had a real focus on health services since World War II, but this is only part of the issue.

'Life expectancy'

"We have to look at what causes ill health in first place, faced with the enormous differences in life expectancy in different areas of the region."

The conference is the first of its kind in the North West and more than 300 people are expected to attend.

Mr Ashton said obesity, smoking and drinking will be among the issues discussed.

He said: "We have much higher smoking levels than other parts of country, apart from the North East, and alcohol is also a huge issue with days lost from work, domestic violence and chaos in the streets.

"These are big problems, not to mention the medical side of things .

"We need to look at how we can work together if the North West is to be a strong healthy European region."