This past week’s class discussions have gotten me thinking. We live in a country where 23% of our 18 and older population are obese and 36% more are overweight. On top of that, 8% of children and adolescents are obese and 18% overweight. That is over 50% of our adult population that are heavier than is healthy for them. This behaviour has started to reflect on the younger generation. Our society is getting heavier and heavier.
This problem has only been growing with time. This chart shows over weight and obesity rates in Canadian adults from the years 2000-2004. The percentages keep growing higher with every year.
| Table 2: Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Among Canadian Adults (%) | ||||||
| Overweight, Including Obese | Obese | |||||
| 2000-2001 | 2003 | 2004 | 2000-2001 | 2003 | 2004 | |
| Total | 47.4 | 48.5 | 58.8 | 14.9 | 15.4 | 23.4 |
| Men | 55.6 | 58.1 | 65.2 | 16.0 | 16.6 | 23.7 |
| Women | 39.0 | 38.6 | 52.4 | 13.8 | 14.1 | 23.2 |
Being an overweight population has had a hugely negative effect on people’s lives. The health effects of overweight and obesity are numerous, and range from increased chance of heart disease, type II diabetes, stroke, and high blood pressure, to certain types of cancer.
I believe that we are not doing enough as a nation to combat these growing rates. I honestly think that the only way we are going to have an impact these growing numbers is by reaching out to our younger generation.
We need to implement teachings about healthy lifestyle into youth. What’s one way to do that that would be truly effect? Making physical education and health class mandatory for all students’, grades kindergarten to 12.
If we made these classes compulsory I believe our generation would have the foundation to live a healthier life. It may be slow going, but by having daily physical education and teaching on making healthy life choices I believe we could help reverse this exponential growth our overweight and obesity rates are on.
We need to inform people that making healthy choices and exercise can be fun and have great effects on their personal health.
References:
http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/ResearchPublications/prb0511-e.html
Julie's Exercise Science 