BC Medical Association Applauds Committee Report on Childhood Obesity
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(CCNMatthews - Dec. 11, 2006) - The BC Medical Association is applauding a recent report on childhood obesity. Last week the Select Standing Committee on Health released the report "A Strategy for Combating Childhood Obesity and Physical Inactivity in British Columbia". Following a review of the report, the BCMA is supporting the report and its recommendations.
"This report lays a clear foundation for how the province can address childhood obesity, and government should take it very seriously," said BCMA President Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid. "The obesity epidemic in our society is a major public health challenge, and it will take cooperative and determined action from government, schools, health care providers and the public to reverse this trend."
Approximately 26% of BC children between the ages of 2 and 17 are overweight or obese. Obesity is a major contributor to chronic conditions such as diabetes, coronary artery disease and hypertension. Today obesity and inactivity are estimated to cost BC $1 billion annually. The BCMA now projects that obesity and inactivity related costs in BC will increase by over 45% by 2015.
The BCMA was also pleased that the Committee recognized the BCMA's recommendation to create the British Columbia Child Health Registry to accurately measure childhood obesity and inactivity in the province. "This data will be the foundation on how the province can target programs to tackle this problem, and then evaluate how we did," Dr. MacDiarmid said.
Childhood Obesity in British Colombia
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