Americas - Canada - Canadian obesity rates projected to climb

Citation

Lamb-White, J. (2006), "Americas - Canada - Canadian obesity rates projected to climb", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 19 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2006.06219fab.001

Americas - Canada - Canadian obesity rates projected to climb

CanadaCanadian obesity rates projected to climb

Keywords: Public health, Health education, Health education

Canada has become a world leader in tobacco control, but some obesity rates are projected to continue to climb, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada said in a report released Monday.

The report, called Tipping the Scales of Progress: Heart Disease and Stroke in Canada 2006, includes new projections on tobacco use and obesity, along with policy recommendations to reduce heart disease and stroke. There was an overall reduction of 53 per cent in cardiovascular mortality from 1979 to 2003, after accounting for age, the report noted. But the report’s authors project that obesity rates will continue to rise among men and among women in higher income brackets. The foundation recommends elementary and secondary school students receive at least one hour of physical activity. Tax changes are also recommended. The report also calls for sales taxes to be removed from health foods such as pre-packaged salads, while keeping current taxes on unhealthy foods.

Governments could also remove sales taxes from sport and recreation equipment such as bicycles and skates, the report said. The authors are recommending tax breaks for public transit passes, and setting aside at least 7 per cent of transportation-related infrastructure funds for such things as bicycle paths and walking trails.

For more information, see www.cbc.ca

Edited by Jo Lamb-White