Toronto Star

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

How healthy are the city’s adults and children and what strategies promote active healthy lifestyles?

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The years number and older of Toronto who are residents overweight 18 or obese increased to 44.8% in 2011/ 2012, from 42.8% in 2009/2010:

52.6% of the population 12 and over and 32.2% of 12- to 19-year-olds report being inactive during leisure time. Close to 40% of boys and almost 30% of girls 5-11 years old in Ontario are overweight or obese:

Without concerted action, up to 70% of today’s children will be overweight or obese adults, and more prone to develop chronic illnesses younger. 80% of Toronto elementary schools have a health and physical education teacher (compared to 44% across Ontario), but few students are sufficient­ly active:

Fewer than 50% of children in a 2012 GTA study got mandated Daily Physical Activity (DPA), and none were spending recommende­d 20 minutes in daily moderate to vigorous physical activity. Toronto is counting on a lasting public health legacy from the 2015 Pan/ Parapan American Games:

In 2012, constructi­on began on a new high-performanc­e aquatics and athletics facility on property jointly owned by the City and the University of Toronto Scarboroug­h Campus. Organizers believe that this largest investment in amateur sport in Canadian history ($205 million) will serve students and the local community and boost community physical activity levels. Across Toronto, 5.3% of residents were diagnosed with diabetes in 2011/ 2012, from 7.6% in 2010/2011, and below the Canadian average of 6.3%:

Recent immigrants living in lowincome unwalkable neighbourh­oods in Toronto are three times more likely to develop diabetes than those living in high-income, highly walkable neighbourh­oods. Across Ontario, the population of 75-year-olds and older will triple by 2021, placing enormous demands on long-term care facilities and programs:

Waiting time for long-term care placement grew in Ontario from 36 days in 2005 to 98 days in 2012. 15% of clients died in 2012 before being accommodat­ed.

 ?? SCARLET O’NEILL ?? Big Brothers Big Sisters Toronto
SCARLET O’NEILL Big Brothers Big Sisters Toronto

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