"And a study by GPI Atlantic, commissioned for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia, identified transportation as one of four major areas in which people have the opportunity to be physically active during their day. "
October 12, 2006, The Chronicle-Herald, Opinions ~ Jim Meek
"The health bureaucrats will tell you that Canadian boomers, who make up about 30 per cent of the population, are fat too young and old too soon. We don't want to either die young or grow old, of course.
But the experts say we're likely to “ shuffle off this mortal coil" quicker than our parents did – because we're so darned sedentary. "
“ The evidence is clear that increased physical activity would save the province millions of dollars a year in avoided health-care costs. It's estimated that physical inactivity in HRM costs the provincial health-care system $16 million a year in hospital, physician and drug costs alone. When adding all direct health-care costs, including private expenditures, the sedentary lifestyle of nearly half of HRM residents costs the province $23.6 million a year in direct medical expenditures. ”
October 19, 2004, The Halifax Herald ~ David Aalders, Ecology Action Centre
“ TWO SEEMINGLY unrelated topics have been in the news lately: a) Nova Scotia's unacceptably high rates of physical inactivity, as outlined in a recent study by the Heart and Stroke Foundation; and b) demands by Canadian municipalities for a portion of federal fuel taxes, allowing them to fix decaying urban infrastructure, especially transportation. The Heart and Stroke Foundation study, which stressed the linkages between physical inactivity and the design of our communities, found that 50 per cent of Nova Scotians and 48 per cent of Halifax Regional Municipality residents are inactive. ”
Nova Scotia is the little engine that could. Pollute, that is. “ Let me tell the House about health promotion Nova Scotia style. A recent study conducted by Dr. Sally Walker and Dr. Ronald Colman on behalf of the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Nova Scotia indicated that increased physical activity would save the province of Nova Scotia millions of dollars. In my municipality alone the inactive lifestyles of individuals cost the taxpayer more than $23 million. Some 200 residents of the Halifax regional municipality die prematurely each year because of physical inactivity. ” — Michael Savage, Liberal MP, Dartmouth-Cole Harbour
October 6, 2004, The Halifax Herald ~ Dr. Lydia Makrides
Inactivity is a burden on society and our cities should be tailored towards hoofing it or biking it “ Physical inactivity is taking a terrible toll on the health of our city, our province our country - and our economy. This toll is spelled out clearly in a new report prepared by GPI Atlantic for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia, The Cost of Physical Inactivity in the Halifax Regional Municipality. ¶ Nearly half of Halifax's population over the age of 12 is inactive, and this costs Nova Scotia $68 million a year in direct and indirect costs. It is also the cause of 200 premature deaths a year. ”
September 20, 2004, The Halifax Herald
Report: city spaces should inspire activity
September 18, 2004, The Daily News ~ Beth Johnston-Ross
“ Urban sprawl could be causing some sprawling Halligonian waistlines. ¶ Because so many of us spend hours in our cars commuting to and from work, then drive to run errands, we are missing the opportunity to get moving, a Heart and Stroke Foundation report released yesterday says. ¶ Urban planning can boost residents' fitness levels by providing them with walking or cycling alternatives to driving and accessible sports and recreation facilities, saving public money on health-care costs, the GPI Atlantic report concludes. ”
Thursday, June 13, 2002, The Daily News, Halifax ~ Beverley Ware
Inactivity is a burden on society and our cities should be tailored towards hoofing it or biking it “ Physical inactivity is taking a terrible toll on the health of our city, our province our country - and our economy. This toll is spelled out clearly in a new report prepared by GPI Atlantic for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia, The Cost of Physical Inactivity in the Halifax Regional Municipality. ¶ Nearly half of Halifax's population over the age of 12 is inactive, and this costs Nova Scotia $68 million a year in direct and indirect costs. It is also the cause of 200 premature deaths a year. ”
June 13, 2002, The Halifax Herald
Inactive Nova Scotians cost medicare millions - study
Materials prepared by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia based on the GPI Atlantic physical inactivity report for Halifax Regional Municipality:
Physical inactivity costs the Nova Scotia economy an additional $247 million each year in indirect productivity losses due to premature death and disability. Adding direct and indirect costs, the total economic burden of physical inactivity in Nova Scotia is estimated at $354 million annually.
