Chris Bryan, 19

It's a dirty city. Industrial. There used to be a lot of smog around, but now I guess it's fumes and litter. But it is quite sporty as well, so we do get some exercise. We just party harder and die quicker, that's all.

Jamie Brunt, 31, Laser Quest employee

It's all the pollution and the bad weather. It really gets people down. You're breathing fumes in from the traffic all the time, and it's always raining, so people just don't feel happy and healthy. When people smile they feel better, but it's difficult when the weather gets you down.

Sylvia Welch, 63, retired

t's the smoking more than anything else. There are a lot of smokers about the place, definitely. A lot of people don't exercise either, though they probably try to. I certainly don't. It's each to their own. But people probably don't eat enough fruit and veg any more. They used to, but food doesn't taste the same. It tasted better when I was younger, but I don't know what they do to it now.

Rachel Chadwick, 31, legal secretary

I reckon we live shorter lives because we live it more fully. We're probably all drinking too much and smoking too much. There's so much going on in Manchester these days that it's hard not enjoy yourself. I work for a big solicitors' firm and we get half our gym membership paid. They also give smokers the option of going on courses to kick the habit. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me - but the firm did get their money back.

Juliet Mban, solicitor, 34

I don't believe that Manchester's less healthy at all. What's so different about it? There's a lot more pollution in other cities. What about London? That's the big smoke. No, we're certainly not any worse here than anywhere else.

· Interviews by Merope Mills