Canadians today work harder, pack on more pounds, live longer and earn more than they did two decades earlier, according to a report released Wednesday that measures the wellness of people across the country.

The report, produced by the Institute of Wellbeing, cautions that while certain groups have made considerable economic gains, little action has been taken to ease persistent poverty levels. The researchers caution that poor Canadians are less likely to be healthy, involved in their communities and trusting of others.

"The stark reality is that household income continues to be the best predictor of future health status," the report said. "This is true in all age groups and for both women and men."

The Institute of Wellbeing, an independent network affiliated with the University of Waterloo and chaired by Roy Romanow, analyzes data collected by Statistics Canada and market research firm EKOS on issues pertaining to health, education, recreation and the way we use our time. The institute suggests the index of wellbeing will complement traditional indicators such as the GDP and provide a more complete snapshot of how Canadians are faring.

The authors of the report note that the data collected and analyzed in this report does not include information for the second half of 2008 and the first half of 2009. The institute plans on releasing a separate report exploring how the recession has affected the lives of Canadians.

Here is a summary of the June 10 report's highlights, by the numbers:

Health

• Life expectancy rates in Canada have increased steadily, up from 74.9 years in 1979 to 80.4 years in 2005, according to the report. While these rates are fairly standard across the country, life expectancies in Canada's three northern territories diverge notably from the national average. In Nunavut, for example, a child born in 2004 was expected to live to 70.4 years - 10 years lower than the national average.
• Sixty-seven per cent of teenagers reported excellent health in 2005, down from 80 per cent in 1998, the report said. A growing number of teenagers reported difficulty with everyday functions including memory, thinking and mental wellbeing.
• A strong 87 per cent of Canadians in 2007 said the quality of their health care was excellent or good, up from 84 per cent in 2000.
• The number of obese Canadians in 2007 was 16 per cent, up from 12.7 per cent in 1994. Diabetes rates have nearly doubled over the past decade.
• Depression rates have zigzagged over the past two decades, from 5.2 per cent in 1994 to 7.1 per cent in 2000 to 5.2 per cent in 2005.
• Teen smoking has dropped by a considerable 42 per cent from 1994 and 2007, in part owing to tax and smoking restriction initiatives and health promotion programs.

Wealth

• Personal income per capita increased 36.5 per cent in the years from 1981 to 2008. Personal disposable income swelled 28.8 per cent. Real hourly wages have increased at an average rate of 0.8 per cent per year.
• In 1981, 12.1 per cent of workers said they worked 50 hours or more per week. In 2008, this proportion increased modestly to 12.9 per cent.
• Poverty levels among elderly Canadians has decreased notably, from 21 per cent in 1981 to 5.4 per cent in 2006. The poverty rate for all Canadians decreased from 11.6 per cent in 1981 to 9.2 per cent in 2007.
• The employment rate in Canada inched up from 60.1 per cent in 1981 to 63.6 per cent in 2008, in part owing to more women joining the workforce.
• The amount of money Canadians are spending on out-of-pocket health care expenses, for services such as vision care and physiotherapy, has increased from $2.3 billion in 1981 to $16.5 billion in 2007.

Community

• Thirty-three per cent of Canadians gave their time and effort to non-profit charities in 2003, up from 31 per cent in 1997.
• Forty-two per cent of Canadians in 2003 reported being concerned about the welfare of others, regardless of the demands and pressures they faced in their own lives. In 1994, the proportion of Canadians who reported the same was just 27 per cent.
• Property crime rates declined 36 per cent between 1991 and 2006.
• Fifty-five per cent of Canadians in 2005 said they believe people can be trusted — up slightly from 53 per cent in 2003. Yet a wary 43 per cent in 2005 cautioned, "you can't be too careful in dealing with others."