Health Bytes is one aspect of the Altona Chronic Disease Prevention Initiative.  It is sponsored by Manitoba In Motion, the Chronic Disease Prevention Initiative - Central Region, and the Altona & Area Family Resource Group.  It includes information from research regarding nutrition, physical activity, and smoking.

What is Chronic Disease Prevention Initiative (CDPI)?

• Chronic Diseases are conditions that can be prevented or improved through positive lifestyle choices (eg. heart disaease, cancer, smoking related diseases)
• The initiative is community-led partnership between local, regional, provincial, and federal levels.

What does CDPI do?

• Grassroots committees identified by Regional Health Authorities design and implement CDPI activities in their communities to address local risk factors.
• In Manitoba there are a total of 37 initiatives
• In the Central Region there are 3:  Winkler, Sandy Bay and Altona

Following is a Health Quiz based on the Central Region.  Please record your answers as you go.  Scroll down when finished to find the correct answers.

Physical Activity:

What is the Central Region's rate of physical inactivity?

a)  39%

b)  53%

c)  61%

Healthy Weight:

What percentage of adults (18+) in the Central Region are obese?

a)  30.8%

b)  12.5%

c)  19.5%

Smoking:

What percentage of non-smoking Central Region people over the age of 11 report being exposed to second hand smoke on most days of the week?

a)  23%

b)  14%

c)  8%

Diabetes:

In 1998/99, the prevalence rate (the rate of people living with the disease) of diabetes in RHA Central was among the 

a)  highest in Manitoba

b)  middle in Manitoba

c)  lowest in Manitoba

ANSWERS:

Physical Actibity:  B

Central Region has the third highest rate of physical inactivity in the province at 53%.  The Manitoba average rate is 48.8%.

Healthy Weight:  C

In Central Region, 1 in 5 residents - 19.5% ages 18+ are obese (Body Mass Index over 30) 39.1% of males are classified as overweight.  (BMI between 25.0 and 29.9).

Smoking:  A

Over 23% of residents 11 years and older report being exposed to second hand smoke on most days of the week.  This, combined with the rates of daily smoking means that almost 50% of the regional population may be exposed to the harmful effects of tobacco smoke on a regular basis.

Diabetes:  C

RHA Central has one of the lowest rates of diabetes in Manitoba in 1998/99.  Between 1994 and 1998, diabetes mellitus was the 7th leading cause of death amond women and the 9th leading cause of death among men in the Central RHA.