Apparently, we're not as healthy as we think in Richmond.
Despite consistently topping the charts when it comes to being the most active city in the country and having the longest life span, there are reports that more people in Richmond are smoking than ever before.
And, if Vancouver Coastal Health's (VCH) information is to be believed, Richmondites are eating less fruits and vegetables than anywhere else in B.C.
Before engineering a plan of action, VCH have kicked off a survey of the city folk's general health and wellbeing.
The 10-minute survey posed to people in shopping malls, hospitals, transit hubs and libraries began Friday, Feb. 24 and continues through Sunday, March 4.
It will also be available online at www.vch.ca/ HealthyRichmond.
The survey is aiming to reach approximately 7,000 Richmond residents, aged 18 and up, to ask questions about smoking habits, physical activity levels, fruit and vegetable consumption and community participation.
"It's important to gather this information so that we can ensure that we are offering relevant and appropriate programs and services to Richmond residents," said Dr. James Lu, medical health officer, VCH-Richmond.
"Our local survey will ensure that Richmond's large ethnic population is adequately represented in our statistics, making it more statistically relevant than other larger, nationalin-scope surveys."
The information gathered will be used to develop and guide health promotion programming in Richmond and support the Richmond Community Wellness Strategy as well as Healthy Families BC initiatives in VCH.
The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete. Several of the questions focus on tobacco consumption, as the number of people who smoke in Richmond is increasing rather than decreasing.
"Although the City of Richmond has the lowest percentage of obese residents in B.C., national surveys consistently indicate that Richmond residents are less active and eat
fewer fruits and vegetables compared to the rest of the province," said Dr. Patricia Daly, chief medical health officer, VCH. "We are especially keen to learn more about why this is, so we can encourage Richmond residents to eat a more balanced diet and to become more physically active."
Starting last Friday, survey teams - screened, hired and trained by VCH - have been out and about in Richmond.
