fat camp?
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
A recent article from CBC reports that about one-quarter of Canadians aged two to 17 are overweight or obese, and they are expected to live shorter lives than their parents.The excess weight puts children at risk of a myriad preventable health problems, including Type 2 diabetes, susceptibility to heart attack and stroke, joint problems and mental health issues.
"It has been said that obesity outranks both smoking and drinking now in its effects on health and health costs," said committee chair Rob Merrifield, a Conservative MP for the Alberta riding of Yellowhead.
"For the first time in recorded history, today's younger generation will live shorter lives than their parents. Yet parents, and this is, I believe, the most alarming statistic that we found, do not recognize the problem."
According to a survey by the Canadian Medical Association, nine per cent of parents identified their children as being overweight or obese.
Rates among aboriginal children are worse, with 55 per cent living on reserves being overweight or obese, compared with 41 per cent for First Nations children living off reserves, said the report.The report calls on the federal government to immediately:
- Start a comprehensive public awareness campaign.
- Mandate standardized labels on the front of packages.
- Remove trans fats from the Canadian diet and replace them with an alternative low in saturated fat.
Canadian Food Guide!
posted by Rachel Pede @ 9:34 PM
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