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Province Sets Aside $30 Million for Health and Fitness

By 250 News

The BC Healthy Living Alliance is receiving a one-time grant of $25.2 million while 2010 Legacies Now will get a grant of $4.8 million to promote healthy lifestyles, and  increased physical acitivity.

 For the BC Healthy Living Alliance, the money will be used to follow through on recommendations presented in its report “The Winning Legacy – A plan for improving the health of British Columbians by 2010.” 

Those recommendations include:

-promoting wellness and supporting chronic disease prevention;
-enhancing collaboration among local government, non-government and private sector organizations; and,
-increasing the capacity of communities to create and sustain health-promoting policies, environments, programs and services. 

“Research tells us four risk factors are the major causes of our most common chronic diseases." says  Health Minister George Abbott , "Lifestyle choices about nutrition, exercise, tobacco use and healthy choices during pregnancy can make a real difference in our own health, and in the sustainability of the entire health-care system. "

Research from 2003 indicates:
-Improved diets could reduce death from cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20 per cent and from cancer and diabetes by 30 per cent;
-42 per cent of B.C. adults were overweight or obese. Overweight/obesity costs $730 million to $830 million annually;
-58 per cent of British Columbians were physically or moderately active, Physical inactivity costs the Province more than $570 million a year;
-15% of British Columbians use tobacco. The direct and indirect costs are about $1.2 billion annually. 


Abbot says "The BCHLA and 2010 Legacies Now have a depth and breadth of expertise, knowledge and community partnerships that will help us achieve the goals of ActNow BC.” 

ActNow BC is government’s health and wellness initiative promoting healthy living choices to improve quality of life.





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