In Canada, wealth equals health: study

According to a public opinion survey, lower income groups in the country reported poorer health than their wealthier counterparts.

Only 39 per cent of those earning less than 30,000 Canadian dollars a year described their health as "very good" or "excellent", compared to 68 per cent of those earning 60,000 dollars or more - a gap of 29 per cent, said the Ipsos Reid survey conducted last month for the Canadian Medical Association (CMA).

Three years ago, a similar survey found the gap between the two income groups was 17 per cent, 'CBC News' reported.

"When it comes to the well-being of Canadians, the old saying that wealth equals health continues to ring true," Dr John Haggie, president of the CMA, said in a statement.

"What is particularly worrisome for Canada's doctors is that in a nation as prosperous as Canada, the gap between the 'haves' and 'have nots' appears to be widening," said Haggie.

People in the lowest income bracket also reported accessing health-care services more often in the past month, 59 per cent, compared with 43 per cent among those earning the most income.

The 2012 survey found that 38 per cent of Canadians earning less than 30,000 dollars a year said they were "very" or "somewhat" overweight compared to 32 per cent of those earning 60,000 dollars or more.

Those with the lowest incomes were also more likely to report being diagnosed with a chronic condition, 41 per cent, than those with household incomes of 60,000 Canadian dollars or more, 28 per cent.

In terms of eating habits, those earning the least were much less likely to say they ate five servings of fruits and vegetables every day or often, 50 per cent, compared with 66 per cent among those earning the most.

The same was true for physical activity levels and income: 52 per cent versus 57 per cent.

More than one in five Canadians, 22 per cent, said they'd delayed or cancelled a dentist appointment because of financial concerns.

The findings are from an online poll by Ipsos of 1,004 Canadians and a telephone poll conducted on behalf of the CMA.