An OECD study says Canadians are among the most obese, and that could lead to increases in instances of related chronic diseases like diabetes
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Canadian health picture: Good but not great

An annual international assessment of developed countries’ health situation, puts Canada near the top in most categories, but points out danger areas ahead.  Most of the information in this new 2013 report is gathered from 2011 data.

The Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has just released their Health at a Glance 2013 report based on the latest data, most of which is from 2011.

The OECD includes European countries, North America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

In terms of health spending per capita, Canada was seventh behind the US and several European countries, but well above the OECD average.

Despite the relatively high level of health expenditure in Canada, there are fewer physicians per capita than in most other OECD countries. In 2011 Canada had 2.4 physicians per 1000 population, which is below the OECD average of 3.2.

The number of hospital beds in Canada was about half of the OECD average, but some of that is due to changes in medical practice due to better technology resulting in shorter hospital stays.

In terms of life expectancy, in 2009 (latest figures available for Canada) life expectancy was 81 years while the 2011 OECD average was 80.

Obesity was an area of concern for all OECD countries, although with notable differences.  In Canada, just over one in four adults was defined as being obese (2011) based on measures of height and weight. Its an even greater problem in Australia (28.3%) and the US (36.5%), all three of which are far greater than in Asian countries such as Japan and Korea (4%).

There is concern that increasing obesity rates will lead to increases in disease like diabetes putting a further strain on health services.

Korea had the highest suicide rate at 33.3 per 1000, Canada’s rate (2009) was 11.1, the US was 12.5 and the OECD average was 12.6.

OECD- (pdf) HEALTH AT A GLANCE 2013

 

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