Experts take aim at the obesity epidemic in Canada

A panel of experts today took aim at the obesity epidemic in Canada, exploring innovative ideas to help individuals, organizations and governments address this major health threat.

“Obesity is a complex issue, and not just an individual problem,” says Stephen Samis, Director of Health Policy at the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. “From removing trans fats from our food supply, to daily phys ed in schools, to communities designed to support healthy living, we have to change our environment to improve the health of Canadians.”

Tackling the Obesity Epidemic in Canada: The role of individuals and the public and private sectors is the Public Policy Session taking place today at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2004, hosted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society.

“We have to understand that reducing obesity in our population requires that we change the overall environment, and not simply ask individuals to make changes,” says Dr. Trevor Hancock a public health physician and consultant to the BC Ministry of Health. “Encouraging activity in the workplace, removing junk food from schools and bringing corporations and governments together to build more walkable and bikeable communities are examples of what needs to be done to support individual efforts,” Dr. Hancock adds.

America On the Move, a US nonprofit initiative dedicated to stopping weight gain advocates that Americans make small changes that add up to walking an extra 2000 steps and eating 100 fewer calories each day. Ms. Laura Simonds, Executive Director of America On the Move and a panelist for the session, says that common sense approaches are resulting in significant changes. “The message is simple: move more and eat less. Making small changes daily is all it takes to create good habits that prevent weight gain,” she says.

To meet the objective of supporting sustainable individual behavior change, America On the Move is working with communities across America, focusing on creating environments that promote healthy eating and active living.

Dr. Lawrence Frank from UBC brings a unique background in the interactions between land use, travel behaviour, air quality and public health to the discussion. His research into the impact of the built environment on physical activity create a better understanding of how community design affects activity levels. “How we build communities has a lasting influence on the activity levels of the people who live in them,” notes Frank.

Dr. Frank is presenting results from his recent research linking obesity with travel patterns and urban design. “I am increasingly concerned about how we are moving toward a more auto-oriented lifestyle,” says Frank, pointing to his research associating objective measurements of physical activity with neighbourhood walkability.