Shine OnObesity the biggest health risk facing Canadians
The obesity epidemic in Canada has reached new heights with recent research suggesting that rates have tripled over the past 26 years.
Researchers from Memorial University discovered that between 1985 and 2011 the overall obesity rate in Canada increased by 12 per cent from 6 per cent to 18 per cent, reports CTV.
The researchers also note that the obesity epidemic is putting a massive financial strain on the health care system. Health care costs to address the problem fall between $4.6- and $7.1-billion a year. More overweight individuals are relying on medical services to address their Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer and sleep apnea.
"These results raise concerns at a policy level, because people in these obesity classes are at a much higher risk of developing complex care needs," says lead author and medical professor Laurie Twells.
Researchers also warn that if Canadians continue to remain flippant about their expanding waistlines, more than 1 in 5 could be obese in the next five years. In some provinces, the number of overweight and obese adults will outnumber those at a healthy weight.
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The study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, analyzed data from Statistics Canada over a 26-year period from 1985 to 2011.
The results also show a trend towards lower obesity rates in Western Canada, particularly British Columbia, and higher rates in New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador.
National medical experts have weighed in on the study with some suggesting that the results are not surprising.
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"I do not believe we've experienced an epidemic loss of willpower since 1980," Yoni Freedhoff from the University of Ottawa tells the Globe and Mail. "I think the world around us has changed."
He believes the reasons for the rising obesity rates are well-known, namely an increase in cheap and well-marketed food products with little nutritional value and over-sized portions.
However, other experts suggest the causes of the obesity epidemic are far more obscure and not clearly understood by the medical community.
The Canadian study comes on the heels of a recent U.S. study that suggests children are at increased risk of weight gain if they have a television in their bedroom.
Also see: Could eating more fat make you slimmer?
In addition to televisions, a number of other studies have pointed fingers to factors that may be linked to obesity, such as a strict parenting-style or suburban living.
Meanwhile, the Canadian government has joined forces with other governments across the globe to find new policies to address the health epidemic. Policies have included eliminating junk food from school cafeterias, reforming nutrition labels on grocery goods and limiting fast-food advertising to children.
Beyond eating well and exercising, what are your suggestions for curbing the obesity epidemic in Canada? Sound off in the comments below.
