Bounty

The NHS is under so much strain from illnesses caused by unhealthy lifestyles that free treatments such as IVF could be withheld.

That is the conclusion of a new report, which warns free medical care could be cut for patients who do not tackle their eating, drinking and smoking habits.

Friends Provident and the Future Foundation's report - Visions of Britain 2020 - predicts the end of free fertility, dental, alternative therapy and obesity treatments by 2020.

It says Britons are still exercising too little and drinking too much alcohol despite government health campaigns.

A poll for the report found Suffolk residents had the unhealthiest lifestyles, exercising the least compared with 10 other regions in the UK.

They were also least likely to take notice of their calorie intake and the least likely to follow recommended alcohol guidelines, according to the survey of 1,000 consumers.

Dr Sarah Brewer, a GP and medical journalist who was consulted for the report, said: "We all know that we should follow a healthy low-fat diet, eat at least five (portions of fruit and vegetables) a day etc.

"But how many actually do anything about it? Unless an unhealthy diet and lifestyle is penalised in some way no-one will change."