Heart of Mersey's core aims are to:

• Reduce coronary heart disease deaths by 40% in the under 75s by 2010
• Reduce coronary heart disease incidence by 20% by 2010
• Tackle health inequalities

The Programme is also concerned with the key risk factors associated with the above, including poor diet, smoking (including second-hand smoke) and physical inactivity.  To address these, HoM has set out the following targets:

Food

• Reduce mean dietary fat intake in Merseyside to 30% of total energy intake by 2008, of which a maximum of 10% should be saturated fats
• Reduce the population mean level of serum total cholesterol (through reduction of saturated fat in diet) by 10% in 2008
• To increase the percentage of the population eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day by 2008
• To reduce the total salt intake in diet
• ·To reduce the total and frequency of sugar intake in diet

Tobacco

•  To support the work towards a smokefree Greater Merseyside

Physical Activity

•  To support the need to create an environment which promotes being physically active as a normal and enjoyable part of everyday life