Grant: Project Grant

Half of all Canadian adults will experience a major chronic illness such as cardiovascular disease or cancer. While the risk of these illnesses has been higher in men compared to women in the past, the gap is narrowing. Those of lower socioeconomic position (SEP) are at greater risk. The risk starts early in life and continues across the lifespan. Differences in the built environment features (such as the distance to nearby parks), are believed to be the connection. However, as health is also passed down generations, it's unclear how much the environment also explains health. In order to separate out the environment from biology, both need to be measured at the same time across generations. With the recent advancements in technology, conducting a study that can assess both at the same time is finally possible. This proposal uses data from three generations of 4000 families (>10,000 people) with 35 years of data. This project will be able to test whether risk from the environment differs (1) between generations, (2) based on age, (3) between men and women. How these differences may also change over time will also be tested. Study findings will identify some of the root causes of health differences. Results may help show how healthcare providers and city planners can reduce health inequality