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Sudbury's Vital Signs Report 2007

Health and Wellness

With Greater Sudbury's new hospital complex on track to be completed soon and Laurentian's new medical school soon to graduate its first class of family doctors, Sudburians can look forward to improved health care. However, lifestyle issues are still a concern.

• In 2005, the area served by the Sudbury and District Health Unit (SDHU) had 85 family physicians per 100,000 population.North Bay / Parry Sound District Health Unit had 88 and Toronto Central Health Unit had 145 per 100,000 for the same year. 34
• In 2005, the Sudbury District Health Unit reported 82 Medical specialists per 100,000 compared to North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit with 58 and Toronto Central Health Unit with 279 per 100,000. 34 (See Table 5)

Table 5. Number of general practitioners and specialists /
100,000 population by health units, 2005

Source: Canadian Institute for Health information, Health Indicator Reports 2005

• In 2005, 18.8% of Greater Sudbury's (i.e.: the SDHU) population, (15 and over) was obese . This represents a marginal increase from 18.4% in 2003. 35 Greater Sudbury's obesity rate is higher than the Canadian rate (14.9%). 36 (See Figure 7)

Figure 7. Obesity* in Sudbury and selected Ontario cities, ages 20-64, 2000-2001

• In 2000-2001, the smoking rate for Canada (Age 12+) was 24.0%. Sudbury's smoking rate during this period was 31.1%. The smoking rate for other selected Ontario cities was: Toronto 19.2%; Kitchener 25.1%; Oshawa 26.4%; Thunder Bay 25.5%. Of the 25 Canadian cities reported, Sudbury's smoking rate was highest. 36
• Heavy drinking* in Sudbury increased from 13% to 17% between 1996-1997 and 2000-2001 compared to an increase of 10% to 13% for Ontario. In 2000-2001, Sudbury males were more likely to be heavy drinkers (28%) than Ontario males (19%). Only 4% of Sudbury females were heavy drinkers compared to 6% for Ontario females. 37 (See Figure 8)

Figure 8. Heavy drinking* in Sudbury and Ontario
by gender, ages 20 and over, 2000-2001

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