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An investigation by The Scotsman into the extent of health inequality across the country has provoked dismay among health campaigners, charities and politicians, the newspaper has reported.
The investigation revealed that a boy born in the poorest part of Glasgow can expect to die aged 54 – the lowest life expectancy in the UK. By contrast, men in parts of Livingston can expect to live until nearly 88.
Responding to the findings, Jack McConnell, the First Minister, warned that people in the most deprived parts of the country had to change their attitudes to smoking, drinking, eating and exercise.
The British Heart Foundation said it was "truly shocking that in a country as small as Scotland there can be a gap in life expectancy of 33 years between communities that are often only a few miles apart", while the Child Poverty Action Group described the findings as a "scandal", particularly in a country as rich as Scotland.
The First Minister said the health gap between the two sides of Scotland was "one of the real challenges for government", but added that the state could only encourage healthier living and it was up to individuals to make lifestyle changes to improve their health.
He said: "I think it can be easy to blame the individuals themselves, but I don't think that is the right solution.
"I think what is important is to ensure that we put a framework in place through government, a legal framework, but also support the public services: support for smoking cessation services, support for those who have got alcohol problems, support for those who want to take more exercise, support, for example, for schools where improvements in school meal provision and healthy eating programmes are making a difference - we can do that.
"But ultimately, this is about personal responsibility."
Louise Carlin, Oxfam's manager for Scotland in its UK Poverty programme, said: "There is a need to tackle not just the poverty that exists in developing countries, but also in wealthy countries. In a relative sense, we have to react, not just to the images we see in international terms, but poverty which exists on our doorstep.
"You can have a 50-mile divide within affluent countries."
Murdo Fraser, the Tory deputy leader, said: "This shocking state of affairs shows that the people who are hurt most by the failure of our public services and our economy are those who can least afford to be. Quite simply, the Executive's methods are not working. What we need is genuine public service reform to increase educational opportunities, economic opportunities and health opportunities, particularly for the least well-off, to enhance their quality of life."
Jenny Whelan, the head of CancerBACUP, a support group for those affected by the disease, said: "It is totally unacceptable that someone's life expectancy is being decided by their postcode, especially when the mortality rates vary so dramatically."
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