Canadian obesity rates differ by geography, income: report

A new report reinforces the long-held view that rich people tend to live longer, healthier lives than the middle class and low-income Canadians.

• MAP: Obesity in Canada

The Canadian Institute for Health Information's population health branch released the report, Improving the Health of Canadians on Wednesday.

The report's authors measured measured inequalities in health among children, Aboriginal Peoples and low-income Canadians.

"This report highlights how long-term choices in social policy from physical activity in schools to pensions for seniors can also have profound implications for our health," said Dr. Cameron Mustard, chair of the population health council in a release.

In 2000-2001, Canadians aged 12 or older from the highest income households were twice as likely to report being in excellent health than those in the lowest income households, the report said.

Men who earned the top 20 per cent of income were also about one-quarter less likely to die of heart disease than those in the lowest 20 per cent.

Obesity rates among Canadian children skyrocketed over the last two decades but appear to be levelling off, according to a new report.

Over the past 20 years, rates of overweight and obesity have more than doubled for Canadian adults, and nearly tripled among Canadian children, based on self-reported data.

The rates may have stabilized over the past few years, the report said.

Children in Atlantic Canada were at greater risk of being overweight, while those in the Prairie provinces were at lower risk, compared to the rest of the country. British Columbia, Alberta and the territories were also the most physically active.

The report recommends five strategies to prevent obesity:

1. Encourage breastfeeding because evidence suggests the longer a baby is nourished by breast milk alone, the lower the risk of developing obesity in childhood.
2. Reduce television viewing time, the most common sedentary activity of children.
3. Promote regular physical education in schools.
4. Start comprehensive school health programs such as walk to school groups and free or low-cost fruits and vegetables.
5. Use community-wide programs that include transportation, recreation and land use planning such as walking trails.