The Yorkshire and Humber region has the worst figures for fuel poverty in the country, says the Chief Medical Officer's annual report.
Heating costs are more than 10% of household income in the region
More than 11% of households are forced to spend more than 10% of their income just to adequately heat their homes.
It said 13% of households did not have central heating, with 2,200 more people dying in the winter months of 2002-3 than in the summer months.
Two hundred of those deaths were in the under-64 age group.
A fuel-poor household is one which needs to spend more than 10% of household income to adequately heat the home.
In West Yorkshire, the figure was 19.4%, compared to an average of 8.5% in England and Wales.
Prof Paul Johnstone, regional director of public health for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "Tackling fuel poverty represents a significant challenge."
Poor heating, along with dampness and condensation, were linked to a range of health problems from allergies to respiratory infections.