New projects track factors that lead to chronic disease and injury

Innovative technologies to inform healthy living approaches

OTTAWA, April 21, 2016 /CNW/ - The Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, today announced funding for five new projects that will improve surveillance of chronic disease risk factors, such as unhealthy eating and physical inactivity.

Chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease are some of the leading causes of death and reduced quality of life in Canada. The good news, however, is that if certain risk behaviours are modified, many chronic diseases can be prevented. Monitoring behavioural changes and their outcomes plays an important part in identifying interventions that prevent chronic diseases.

The projects announced today will help in the development of new, unique resources to collect, analyse and share timely information on behaviours that reduce injury, promote safe physical activity, and prevent unhealthy eating.  

The data collected from these ‎initiatives will support public health professionals to inform patients, tailor prevention programs to specific populations, encourage positive behaviour change and identify emerging areas that require public health attention.

Quick facts:

• The Government of Canada is investing close to $4.5 million in these projects. Further private sector funding and in-kind contributions have also been secured for a combined total of over $6 million.
• Approximately 4 in 5 Canadian adults have at least one modifiable risk factor for chronic disease.
• These projects are just a few examples of how the Government of Canada is working with partners to support innovative projects that focus on collecting the evidence required to reduce injury and address common risk factors for chronic disease, such as unhealthy eating, physical inactivity, and smoking.

Quotes:

"Knowing why Canadians make the decisions they do around their eating and exercise habits is critical to identifying ways to encourage healthy lifestyle changes, and reduce the risk for injury and illness. That is why we are working with new partners to develop innovative tools for tracking chronic disease risk factors, and identifying emerging areas that require public health attention."
Honourable Jane Philpott
Minister of Health

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SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada

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