A new survey shows Grey and Bruce county residents in rough shape, and the local Medical officer of health wants you to do something about it.
Doctor Hazel Lynn says the Canadian Community Health Survey from 2007/08 is a wake up call to the community.
Among the findings:
The rate of overweight and obesity in Grey Bruce is 61.5 per cent — or about 3 in 5 people — and is significantly higher than that for Ontario and Canada and is not different from previous years estimates.
About 1 in 5 people who consume alcohol in Grey Bruce are heavy drinkers, a rate that is about one and a half times those of the province and the country and about one and a quarter times that of the peer group.
More than 1 in 5 people in our region suffer from arthritis, a rate significantly higher than that the province, country and of our peer group.
The proportions of people in Grey Bruce who smoke — 22 per cent — and who smoke daily — 18 per cent — are relatively unchanged since 2000/01, and are not statistically different from those of the country, province or peer group.
Doctor Lynn tells Bayshore Broadcasting News it is clear residents in Grey Bruce are putting themselves at substantial risk as hypertension, obesity and smoking and alcohol consumption rates remain high.
She says one of the biggest problems is we simply don’t walk enough, compared to people who live in big cities.
Doctor Lynn says there also seems to be a cultural thing in the area, that people drink heavily and that attitude needs to change.
The definition of a heavy drinker is five or more drinks in one social setting, more than once a month.
