Statistics Canada released its annual Canadian Community Health Survey confirming that B.C. still holds the top spot among provinces when it comes to living healthy lifestyles.

The 2010 Canadian Community Health Survey shows that, among provinces:

British Columbians (ages 12 and over) have the highest physical activity rates at 59.1 per cent.

• B.C. has the lowest smoking rate in Canada at 17.8 per cent.
• British Columbians rank second for fruit and vegetable consumption (five or more times per day) at 43 per cent.
• Adult British Columbians have the lowest self-reported obesity rates at 44.4 per cent and youth (ages 12-17) also have the lowest rates of obesity at 17.8 per cent.
• B.C. has the lowest rates of binge drinking with 15.7 per cent of British Columbians drinking more than five drinks on one occasion.

The Canadian Community Health Survey has been providing population-level information on health determinants, health status and health system use for ten years. It builds on the latest Canadian Institute for Health Information report released yesterday that confirms B.C. has the lowest obesity rates in the country.

Despite this, poor nutrition, along with physical inactivity and tobacco use, are the largest contributors to B.C.'s health care costs. The Province recently launched a comprehensive $68.7-million Healthy Families BC strategy to support British Columbians to continue to improve their health.

As part of this, the Ministry of Health's $24-million Prescription for Health program provides opportunities for British Columbians who smoke, are obese, are physically inactive or have unhealthy eating habits access to free-of-charge telephone-based lifestyle support services.

Quick Facts:

• Poor nutrition, along with physical inactivity and tobacco use, are the largest contributors to B.C.'s health-care costs, while smoking and obesity are the highest preventable causes of death among British Columbians.
• If all British Columbians had a normal, healthy weight for their height, were physically active and did not smoke, the Province could avoid over $3.8 billion in economic and health-care costs each year.
• If each British Columbian exercised for 30 minutes a day, ate reasonably well and refrained from smoking, the risk of most chronic diseases could be reduced by up to 80 per cent.

Learn More:

The survey is available online at:

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/110621/dq110621b-eng.htm

Visit http://www.healthyfamiliesbc.ca/ for resources to support healthy eating, healthy lifestyles and healthy communities.

Media Contact:

Ryan Jabs
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)