2/7/2013
The annual report on how healthy we are in Ontario is out.
The Province's Medical Officer of Health released the 2011 findings today, dubbed "Maintaining the Gains, Moving the Yardstick".
Dr. Arlene king says there have been significant achievements when it comes to improving health, including cutting back on smoking and managing disease control.
The report also finds that there are a number of disparities that place certain groups at much greater risk of poor health.
Dr. King is calling on governments to coordinate and combine efforts in an attempt to keep Ontarian's healthy.
Figures from the report prove that smoking is still the leading risk factor for preventable disease, and that nearly 27% of teens are overweight.
Babies born in 2008 are expected to live to 82, however that is subject to socioeconomic status, meaning a child born in a deprived neighbourhood, will live almost five years less than the average.
The report shows 12 key indicators that measure the health status of Ontarians:
- Smoking and alcohol use during pregnancy
- Low birth weight
- Healthy child development at school entry
- Immunization coverage of school pupils
- Smoking prevalence
- Overweight and obesity
- Preventable mortality
- Compliance with low risk drinking guidelines
- Self-reported positive mental health
- The burden of infectious diseases
- Hospitalizations for falls in seniors
- Life expectancy at birth
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