Blinkered on obesity
Aug. 28, 2006. 01:00 AM
Canadian parents seem to be wearing blinkers when it comes to their children's health.
In a survey for the Canadian Medical Association, fewer than one in 10 parents acknowledged that a child was overweight. That just doesn't square with the known facts: More than one in four kids under age 18 are overweight, even obese.
Moreover, four parents in 10 gave their own children's level of physical activity and diet an A. But at the same time very few parents, just one in 16, think most children deserve an A. So there's a disconnect here, as well.
The discrepancy between what parents think about their children's health and what is reality may reflect their own poor grades in this area.
Fewer than one in five Canadian adults are physically active. Nearly one in four are obese and one in three overweight.
Pizza, doughnuts and subs have become staples of the Canadian diet. At every age, our diet does not meet nutritional guidelines.
And it is parents who buy the groceries, who buy children junk food, and who (don't) lead by example when it comes to being active.
At the same time, parents know perfectly well what needs to be done. They want mandatory physical activity in schools. They want the schools to teach the benefits of a healthy diet and exercise. And they want junk food taken out of school vending machines.
They also want more nutritional labelling on fast food, plus health warnings similar to those on cigarette packages slapped on foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt.
Those are all good proposals and Ontario has taken steps to introduce healthier food choices in school cafeterias and to weed out junk food. It has also mandated 20 minutes of movement in elementary school.
It's a good investment. Obesity can lead to health problems that cost Canada $2 billion a year to treat.
But parents must also practise what they preach.
They have to turn off the TV and computer, get off the couch and get active, and make better food choices.
Delegates to the CMA annual conference last week called for national health goals and targets and a children's health strategy.
That makes sense. Otherwise this generation of children will become the first in history not to live longer than their parents.
Childhood Obesity