Life expectancy in Leicester has fallen further behind the national average.

Poverty, poor diets and the high incidence of cancer, heart disease and diabetes are all adding up to shorter life spans for people across the city compared with the rest of England.

In Leicester, the average man now lives to 75 while women can expect to live to 79. The national average is 77 for men and 81 for women.

The gap between Leicester and the national average has doubled in 10 years.

Health experts say a key reason for the lower life expectancy is that over the past decade, Leicester has become one of the 10 most deprived cities in the UK.

While life expectancy across the country – including in Leicester – has risen since 2000, the level of deprivation in the city means Leicester has not kept pace with improvements across the country as a whole.

Now, a new health screening programme for everyone across the city, aged from 40 to 74, is set to be rolled out to help people get more exercise and become healthier.

If the plan is approved, everyone in the age group would be assessed over the next three years, and, if appropriate, patients would have a personal fitness plan drawn up by a co-ordinator at their local leisure centre.

"The health checks will be undertaken by GPs and people will be screened to see if they are at risk of things such as a heart attack or stroke because they are what most result in early deaths in Leicester," said Deb Watson, director of public health for NHS Leicester City and Leicester City Council, at a meeting yesterday.

"It's really important we have this up and running through GP surgeries because about 65% of people in this age group are likely to benefit from physical activity."

Paul Edwards, head of sports services, told the meeting that the space occupied by sports centre creches and bars – which the city council is planning to close – would be converted into activity rooms where people could dance or do other forms of exercise.

He said the cost of refurbishing the areas would be about £84,000.

Mr Edwards said: "The rest of the screening programme would incur minimal costs as it would be supported by the NHS."

The life expectancy figures, compiled by the council and the city's health trust, also reveal the gaps in life expectancy across different areas of the city.

The biggest gap is between men living in Castle ward, which covers the city centre and Clarendon Park, who can expect to die when they are 72, and men living in neighbouring Knighton, who reach 78 on average.

The second biggest gap is between women in Braunstone, who live until they are 77 on average, and women in Belgrave who live until they are 82 on average.

Ms Watson said: "In Leicester, many people die in middle age due to heart attacks and strokes.

"In terms of Castle ward, I imagine the low expectancy may be to do with deprivation levels in the city centre, but other influences like lifestyle also play a part. In Belgrave, there may be people who are more entrepreneurial, running their own business, who chose to live there to be a part of a community – which is why it could be higher than others."

She added: "Leicester was the seventh most deprived city in 2007 compared to 31st in 2004, which is a steep rise and may mean we are not improving as fast as we could."

Pauline Hurd, 72, has lived in Braunstone for more than 40 years. She gave up smoking three years ago after suffering a heart attack.

She said she was surprised to hear that Braunstone had one of the lowest life expectancies in the city for women.

"I do try to go to the gym once a week for aqua aerobics – but not really when it's cold," she said.

"For me, someone's start in life is the most important thing, so it is up to your parents to show you how to eat and what to do."

Elaine Owens, 31, also of Braunstone, has a four-month-old son and two daughters, aged 11 and 12. She has smoked most of her life and was brought up by parents who smoked.

"My life is as healthy as it's going to be," she said. "I walk everywhere and nobody would make me give up smoking – it's one of my only pleasures in life."

In 2000, life expectancy in Leicester was 74 for men and 79 for women. The national average was 75 for men and 80 for women.