Detailed information on health outcomes and built environment released

Earlier this year, I posted about My Health My Community. This is a comprehensive research project between Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Fraser Health Authority, and the eHealth Strategy Office at UBC. The research looks at built environment, lifestyle choices, poverty, and health status. This research shows links between how we live, where we live, and how that influences health outcomes.

The My Health My Community project just released community level statistics for Metro Vancouver.

For example, in the City of Vancouver only 32.7% of the population commutes by car to work or school, and 38.1% walks or cycles when running errands. 15.2% of the population is obese.

In the Township of Langley 80.7% of the population commutes to work or school by car, and only 6.6% of the population walks or cycles when running errands. 29% of the population in the Township is obese.

The community statistics include other lifestyle indicators as well. In the City of Langley 15.1% of the population binge drinks at least monthly, and 18.3% of the population smokes. In Surrey, excluding South Surrey, 17.2% of the population binge drinks, and 11.2% of the population smokes.

The My Health My Community website also has infographics on the results of the study at the regional and community level.

 Infographic on Built Environment in Surrey. Select graph to enlarge.

Infographic on Health Behaviours in Metro Vancouver. Select graphic to enlarge.

There is a lot of great information on the My Health My Community website. Hopefully it will help community leaders understand the health implications of the design of communities, and access to services within our communities in Metro Vancouver.