Public Health survey results highlight health and wellness of Richmond residents
While Richmond residents are among the healthiest in Canada, they could be living even healthier, longer lives, according to a recent survey.
VCH’s Healthy Richmond Wellness Survey, conducted last year, found that Richmond residents need to be more active, and all men in Richmond need to eat more fruits and vegetables.
“Overall, and by national standards, the health of Richmond residents is very good,” said Dr. James Lu, Medical Health Officer, Richmond. “But our survey delved deeper than most, and what it revealed is that we — as health planners — need to pay special attention to the social and economic barriers across the community that prevent adults, youth and children from building healthy habits.”
Some highlighted findings include:
- Only 33 per cent of Richmond residents meet the recommended weekly physical activity target of 150 minutes. Broadmoor residents clock in as the city’s most active, with 38 per cent meeting the weekly target for physical activity;
- 21 per cent of Richmond residents report eating the recommended five daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Among neighbourhoods, Steveston residents, at 29 per cent, eat the most fruits and vegetables;
- Overall just 8 per cent of residents report that they are currently smokers, a rate that is half the provincial average and 60 per cent lower than the national average;
- 76 per cent of Richmond residents report a strong or very strong sense of community belonging. Residents on Sea Island and Steveston report having the highest sense of belonging.
“This is the first Vancouver Coastal Health survey to measure the connection between belonging and wellness,” said Dr. Jat Sandhu, Regional Director, Public Health Surveillance Unit. “Measuring this connection is important because we know that increased sense of connectedness leads to increased health in that community.”
Full survey results
You can read the full survey results on the VCH website.
Survey results are “Up for Discussion”
Read what Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Patricia Daly, VCH Chief has to say about the results on the Up for Discussion blog.
Public Health is planning to begin regularly monitoring all VCH residents. Stay tuned in the coming months for the launch of our My Health My Community project.