Pembrokeshire people will be put in the picture about local health care, thanks to a new health document launched this week.
It shows that a quarter of the county's residents still smoke, while 16 per cent are obese and 12 per cent admit they do not take regular exercise. And levels of heart disease, diabetes and strokes could be cut by up to a third if more people exercised.
The information is contained in the first newsletter published by Pembrokeshire Local Health Board.
More than 50,000 newsletters are being distributed to help explain the role of the organisation in looking after NHS services in the county.
The newsletter sets out the aims of Pembrokeshire Local Health Board and tells people how to comment or suggest improvements to local services.
The organisation, which was set up last year, currently spends around £125 million on health care for the county.
Chairman Chris Martin said: "Our aim is to provide the people of Pembrokeshire with the best possible NHS services and our goal is to improve the health and well-being of those people. We want people to play an active part in health care in the county and we hope that this newsletter will encourage people to have their say."
The newsletter points out how important exercise is in improving the population's health. Coronary heart disease could be reduced by up to 39 per cent; diabetes by up to 35 per cent and strokes by 33 per cent, while levels of colon and breast cancer would also drop.
It also acknowledges that the county has higher levels of road accident casualties than other areas, while the major causes of death in Pembrokeshire are circulatory and respiratory diseases and cancers.
The newsletter will be distributed through local newspapers and is also available from GP and dental surgeries, pharmacists, optometrists, libraries, the Community Health Council, Citizens Advice Bureau and County Hall. Copies are also available from the Local Health Board, based in Merlin's Court, Winch Lane, Haverfordwest, tel. (01437) 771220/221.