Deprivation levels have been blamed for the revelation that baby boys born in the region will die younger than almost anywhere else in Scotland.

Male children born between 2016 and 2018 in the NHS Dumfries and Galloway Health Board area can expect to live until the age of 76 on average, according to new government data.

The National Records of Scotland figures also break lifespan down to expected years of good health.

Men in the region will enjoy good health for an average 64.2 of their estimated 76 years.

Only NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has a lower life expectancy for males at birth in the years covered by the figures with men expected to live an average 75.3 years.

South of Scotland MSP Colin Smyth said: These figures are a sad indictment of the growing levels of inequality we are seeing across Scotland.

There is a clear link between deprivation and low life expectancy and as poverty increases here in Dumfries and Galloway, life expectancy will fall particularly within our most deprived communities.

For generations parents expected their children to live to an older age than them. That is no longer the case.

Unless we end the shame of poverty then life expectancy will fall in the future and we will be betraying the future of our children.

Females in the local health board area born at the same time live an average 81.8 years, with 64.3 in good health.

Shetland leads the life expectancy table for women, with an 83.4 year average.

Growth in life expectancy rates has generally stalled in Scotland.

Doctors leaders say deprivation is known to have a direct impact on life expectancy.

Professor Derek Bell OBE, president of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, said: Two of the biggest health issues that Scotland faces are obesity and diabetes. It is estimated that around two out of three adults in Scotland are clinically obese.

Price promotions on foods that are high fat, sugar and salt are more likely to be attractive to people with less to spend on their weekly grocery shop.

The college therefore support controls on price promotions of high fat, sugar and salt foods and we back the promotion of healthier food.

We also support the reduction of food portion and pack sizes, as well as retaining and strengthening the sugary drinks tax.

But a healthy lifestyle is important too and we must ensure that we are a healthy and active nation through improved diet and exercise.

The average Scottish life expectancy for those born between 2016 and 2018 was 77 for men and 81.1 years for women.

Life expectancy for both males and females is lower in Scotland than other UK countries.

A spokesman for NHS Dumfries and Galloway, said: The recent figures for life expectancy show a national trend. A regular increase in life expectancy over several decades has slowed down or stopped in recent years.

The reasons for the slowdown are complex and are likely due to a number of societal factors.

Dumfries and Galloway has seen this slowdown in life expectancy improvements, both for men and women, and this is very much in line with the Scottish experience.

Overall, Dumfries and Galloway comes in the middle of the Scottish NHS health boards for life expectancy both for women and men.

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Inequality is still a killer in Dumfries and Galloway according to new government data - Daily Record