Residents of the Langleys and the Fraser South region are slightly less likely to smoke than other B.C. residents, but they are also less likely to eat well and exercise.
The statistics describing the differences were contained in a recent report presented to Langley Township council by Andy Libbiter, the interim director of mental health and substance use for the Fraser Health Authority.
The report shows 12 per cent of people in Fraser South smoke compared to the provincial average of 15 per cent.
But while local residents have slightly better smoking habits, their eating habits are slightly worse, the report shows.
The percentage of people in the region who eat five or more fruits and vegetables a day was 39 per cent compared to 41 per cent provincially, and the percentage of people considered physically active was 56 per cent compared to 60 per cent for all of B.C.
The number of overweight or obese adults in Fraser South was also higher than the provincial average; 49 per cent compared to 47 per cent.
Libbiter said the health authority aims to improve those numbers in a bid to contain health costs by producing healthier people who will need medical services less often.
“We cannot go on using health care … in the same way or we’re going to bankrupt the provincial budget,” Libbiter told council.
Fraser Health currently has a budget of $3 billion to serve 1.7 million people with 12 acute care hospitals, 26,000 staff, 2,500 physicians and 6,500 volunteers between Burnaby and Boston Bar.