Less people smoking; obesity, binge drinking on the rise in Saskatoon

Watch above: The Saskatoon Health Region has released its “Better Health for All” report. While less people are smoking, Dr. Julie Kryzanowski is concerned about an increase in obesity and binge drinking.

SASKATOON – It’s a good news, bad news report from the Saskatoon Health Region (SHR). The Better Health for All report released Wednesday by the region found the number of people smoking has decreased but obesity and binge drinking are on the rise.

During 2011-12, the time-frame covered by the report, less than one in five people reported using tobacco daily or occasionally. Exposure to second-hand was also down to three per cent of the population.

“These findings are promising, but there are areas that continue to cause concern,” said Dr. Julie Kryzanowski, SHR deputy medical health officer.

Two areas of particular concern are obesity and binge drinking. The report found 56.6 per cent of people in the region are considered overweight or obese and 22.2 per cent reported having five or more drinks at least once month over the year.

Kryzanowski says there is a direct link between obesity and screen time.

“More than 60 per cent of our population reported sedentary behaviour, like watching television or using a computer, for more than two hours a day in their leisure time,” said Kryzanowski.

One factor that might be playing a role, says Kryzanowski, is where you live.

“We found further evidence of inequities between those living in the most and least disadvantaged areas in Saskatoon,” said Kryzanowski.

While 72 per cent of people living in the least disadvantaged areas of Saskatoon rated their health as excellent or very good, only 47 per cent of those living in the most disadvantaged areas reported the same.

Kryzanowski says factors like sedentary behaviour, smoking rates, exposure to second-hand smoke, illicit drug use and food insecurity contributed to the lower number.

“Healthy behaviours and risk conditions are not solely individual choices,” explained Kryzanowsk. “They are actions and circumstances largely determined by the physical, social, cultural, and policy environments in which we live, work, learn and play.

“We need to ask, ‘why does our population have these behaviours and risks, and what can be done about them?'”

READ MORE: Lighthouse pilot project aims to help Saskatoon’s most vulnerable

Officials with the health region say they will continue to work with their partners to lower smoking rates, promote physical activity and healthy eating, and increase mental health and addiction support.