Obesity Rates Declining in B.C.

By 250 News

A new national health survey shows British Columbia has the lowest self-reported obesity rates in 10 years, along with the lowest rates among provinces in Canada.

The 2008 Canadian Community Health Survey covers obesity rates in Canadians aged 18 and older. It shows B.C. was the only province to achieve a significant drop in self-reported adult obesity, which decreased by 15 per cent from 12.7 per cent in 2005 to 10.9 per cent in 2007. This is the first considerable decrease since reporting began in 1996.

Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island reported the highest self-reported rates at 21 per cent, and throughout Canada, average rates have increased from 11.7 per cent in 1996 to 15.5 per cent in 2007.

The self-reported data collection method allows respondents to use confidential questionnaires to record their personal answers to survey questions.

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