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Date: | Thu, 4 Jul 2002 18:51:16 -0400 |
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http://cbc.ca/cgi-bin/templates/view.cgi?category=Sci-Tech&story=/news/2002/07/04/life_expect020704
If you want to live long and prosper, move to
Richmond. B.C.
Last Updated Thu Jul 4 17:51:30 2002
OTTAWA - Canadians who live in large cities tend to live longer
than their northern and rural counterparts, according to a new
report by Statistics Canada.
People in Richmond, B.C. had the greatest life expectancy at
an average of 81.2 years -- that's almost three years longer
than the national average of 78.3 years.
The Richmond folks also had the lowest smoking and obesity
rates in the country.
The largely aboriginal region on Nunavik in northern Quebec
had the lowest life expectancy at 65.4 years.
The agency grouped together similar communities to increase
the relevance of the comparisons. Health districts across the
country were grouped on the basis of socio-demographic
factors including population, average years of schooling,
unemployment rate, average income and percentage of
aboriginal and visible minority populations.
The peer groups were compared based on health indicators
such as life expectancy and health risk factors including heavy
drinking, obesity, stress levels and depression.
Within the peer groups, life expectancy varied between three
and five years, the agency found.
Income, lifestyle effects
The researchers also found that communities with lower
incomes and higher unemployment tended to have poorer
health.
"If they didn't smoke, if they exercised, if they were not
overweight, living in poverty is still the prime determinant of
whether they become ill," said York University health policy
Prof. Dennis Raphael.
"They would still become ill at almost twice the rate of
wealthier and middle income Canadians." The agency said the
report could help health officials to target their health promotion
programs.
In general the researchers found urban dwellers had healthier
lifestyles.
Northern communities were the least healthy but also the least
stressed and depressed.
Life expectancies in rural regions were in between the
Canadian average and those of northern communities.
Written by CBC News Online staff
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