A new report by the Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA) has found more than half of Albertans are obese or overweight, more than the rest of Canada.
The HQCA report found six out of 10 Albertans are considered overweight or obese – four in 10 are overweight, while two in 10 are obese – 3.7 percent higher than the national average.
For the study, officials said 4,500 adults were surveyed in 2014.
The results also found the problem is more prevalent among men, people between the ages of 45 and 64-years-old, and those living in northern Alberta.
Being overweight can increase the risk of developing multiple chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and congestive heart failure.
The report suggests the province create a weight management strategy to deal with the issue.
Despite the high numbers, the results are an improvement on a study conducted in 2012 – those results found 7 out of 10 Albertans were considered overweight or obese.
