By Richard Tardif
A recent Pan-Canadian Public Health progress report concluded that one in three Canadian children and youth are overweight (18.6 percent), or obese (12.5 percent). Compare that to the 2005 Pan-Can study reporting 26 percent overweight, a significant decrease, and eight percent classified obese, or a 4.5 percent increase. See Press Release here. Keep that last figure in mind.
The report also shows that children and youth are now experiencing the same debilitating health related consequences of blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes, a problem that at one time restricted to their parents.
The Pan-Can report’s conclusion, “Healthier weights are critical to a healthier future”. The report goes on to say that progress is possible and physical activity is key within the context of healthy weights and healthy living. The recommendation, of course, is to monitor the situation, and not do a thing.
Where have the Pan-Canadian Public Health people been? Of course healthier weight promotes a healthier future, and physical activity is linked to healthy living. Too bad the government started reducing physical activity in schools, they might have not needed a study.
The report doesn’t surprise Farrel Kaufman, a Barefoot Training Specialist and Master Fitness Instructor. “We are living in age of speed and luxury. We tap, swipe, zone out and get frustrated when things don’t instantaneously happen when our fingers demand it,” he says.
There’s been no shortage of studies into how digital technology is re-wiring our brains for the worse and widening our waistlines. A 2007 Statistics Canada study focused solely on how a sedentary lifestyle affects a person’s waistline, and pointed the finger right at technology, measuring how much time we spend sitting in front of screens.
Screen time was connection to obesity as was other potentially influencing factors such as education and age, whether the people lived in an urban or rural environment, and the person’s household income.
“We need to view exercise as an all the time thing,” Kaufman says. “For parents that means modeling more and pressuring schools and government to value it, take television out of the bedroom and limit its time in the living area.”
It’s not that easy, but small changes can lead to long-term benefits.
“With poor body image and fad diets making the right choice is near impossible. The Canada Food Guide is in need of an upgrade as it still favours a diet that caters to a more sedentary lifestyle,” says Kaufman.
A return to overall health begins when we as a society demand a paradigm shift from corporations to work with local producers to sell real food and stop buying highly processed food. Other recommendations include encouraging schools to allow only healthy food choices, and have parents cook meals with their kids everyday.
“It’s not a punishment to children to eat well,” advises Kaufman. “It’s love.”
Next time: Your feet in the buff – barefoot training
