CDPAC to work with health ministers on concrete actions to address childhood obesity

The Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance of Canada (CDPAC), a coalition comprised of ten national organizations committed to integrated action for chronic disease prevention in Canada, commends the federal, provincial and territorial ministers of health for their commitment to address the issue of childhood obesity at their meeting in St. John's Newfoundland yesterday.

Childhood obesity rates have tripled in the past 25 years. If this trend continues, this will be the first generation of children who will be outlived by their parents due to the serious chronic diseases associated with obesity.  Moreover, it is estimated that the probability of childhood obesity persisting into adulthood increases from approximately 20 percent at 4 years of age to approximately 80 percent by adolescence - this is why action is so critical early on.

The health ministers issued a "Framework for Action to Promote Healthy Weights" to address childhood obesity, which described childhood obesity as a "national crisis" requiring a "national response."  This Framework commits health ministers to address several key factors influencing childhood obesity, including: the protection of children from the marketing of foods and beverages high in fat, sugar and/or sodium; and the availability and affordability of nutritious food.  These are two key areas that CDPAC has been actively working on over the past several years.

"Reducing the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children is a key intervention, among other actions, that will help tackle the childhood obesity crisis and the burden of chronic disease in Canada," says Ida Thomas, Chair of CDPAC. "Available data indicates that approximately 80 percent of TV food and beverage advertising in some parts of Canada is for unhealthy food and beverages - for example, foods high in fat, sugar and/or sodium.  This needs to be addressed urgently by governments, industry and civil society. If action is not taken, the incidence of chronic diseases among our children will worsen as they reach adulthood, threatening the sustainability of our healthcare system."

In a recent national public opinion poll, eighty-two percent of Canadians supported action to restrict the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children.

CDPAC looks forward to working with health ministers and other stakeholders to develop and implement concrete actions to address childhood obesity and the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children.