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