Our research showed that BC was the healthiest province in Canada. It had the lowest prevalence of tobacco smoking, excess weight and physical inactivity. What if residents of the other provinces were as healthy as British Columbians? How much could Canada save?
Krueger H, Krueger J, Koot J. 2015. Canadian Journal of Public Health. Vol 106, No 4: 171-177.
If other provinces had the same prevalence rates as BC for tobacco smoking, excess weight and physical inactivity, the annual economic burden attributable to these three risk factors would be reduced by $5.3 billion across Canada.
These cost savings encompass both direct medical costs and indirect costs such as disability and shortened lives.
A second key finding was that the economic burden attributable to excess weight was 25% higher than that of tobacco smoking.
Our report was released on August 17, 2015. Here are some links to various related articles and interviews.
Canada would save billions if everyone was as healthy as BC residents. Read more...
Obesity now costs the economy more than smoking. Read more...
What is the cost of unhealthy lifestyles in Canadian men?
What should we do about the economic burden of excess weight?
Four cancer risk factors cause 47,000 cases of cancer per year in Canada.
What if all regions in BC followed BC’s healthiest regions?
What is the global burden of cancer?
Dr Hans Krueger talks about the economics of unhealthy lifestyles