Life habits

Studies on the economic burden of obesity and overweight carried out in Canada and other industrialized countries, clearly demonstrate that the increased incidence of overweight generates additional costs in terms of the use of health services, and impacts the economic health of these societies. 

This TOPO provides an estimate of the economic consequences of obesity and overweight in Québec. The Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) has studied the evidence on this issue from an economic perspective. In it, we describe the behaviour of Québec adults. This is an overview of the three publication…

As part of an initiative to evaluate the health status of Québec anglophones, their lifestyle habits and certain health indicators were examined by area of residence and compared with those of francophones. The data was taken from the 2003, 2007−2008 and 2009−2010 cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), with particular emphasis on the most recent data.

The results show few statistically significant differences in lifestyle habits and health indicators between anglophones and francophones, regardless of survey cycle or area of residence. Among the few significant differences we did find, anglophones report eating less often fruits and vegetables and tended to be more prone to overweight than francophones, but were also more physically active. They also seem to have a stronger sense of community belonging.

The sample of anglophones was relatively small in this survey, which reduces its statistical power and may partially account for the limited differenc…

The prevalence of obesity has been growing steadily for a number of years. Obesity is usually associated with two major factors: increased calorie intake and reduced level of physical activity among the population. However, other variables may contribute to weight problems, including a lack of sleep. This issue of Topo will examine recent research results on the relationship between sleep and weight status, and potential links between the environment, sleep, and obesity. Sleep is a lifestyle habit that has been increasingly studied in recent years and has also been more closely associated with major problems of health and well-being (chronic diseases, mental health, child development, etc.), hence the importance of focusing on it.

A portrait of the North Karelia Project, the basis for community programs in chronic disease prevention.

The winning aspects of the North Karelia approach

• Adopting a long-term vision.
• Maintaining close ties with the political bodies and decision makers concerned.
• Making the theoretical bases of the intervention explicit.
• Influencing individual and environmental factors.
• Using the media and a variety of channels for disseminating information.
• Involving champions and influential community members in the project.
• Developing collaborative cross-sector ways of changing environments.
• Mobilizing structures and networks existing in the community.

The principle to be retained

Relying on detailed knowledge of the background and conducting the intervention in collaboration with all involved stakeholders.

This publication presents the findings of a health survey carried out in 2003 among households of Iiyiyiu Aschii. A similar survey had been undertaken in the region by Santé Québec in 1991 (Santé Québec, 1994). Ten years later, the Public Health Department of the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay (CBHSSJB) urgently required a new picture of its population's state of health. The purpose of the 2003 survey was to gather upto-date information on the region's main health problems and related factors in order to improve the planning, administration, and evaluation of various social and health programs.

The survey was conducted during the summer of 2003 using a representative sample of residents aged 12 and older from the nine communities in Iiyiyiu Aschii: Chisasibi, Eastmain, Mistissini, Nemaska, Oujé- Bougoumou, Waskaganish, Waswanipi, Wemindji, and Whapmagoostui.

The first section of this publication pertains to pregnancy-oriented practices adopted…