Canada, In the Midst of An Obesity Epidemic
Canada is fat! In a 2014 Statistics Canada report an estimated 5.3 million adults are classified as obese. (statcan.gc.ca, 2014). Obesity is a progressive, often life altering chronic condition where one has too much body fat that affects their health and well-being. Obesity has increased drastically over the past 25 years. (gc.ca,2006). Physical inactivity, sedentary lifestyles, poor nutritional choices and lack of education all play a major role in the increase of obesity. Canadians must realize that there are many serious health implications that follow suit with obesity and realize the importance of taking immediate action to find a solution to improve their health and well-being.
There are …show more content…
The impact of life expectancy is substantial, “Obesity at the age of 40 has been associated with a loss of 7.1 years of life for women and 5.8 years for men”. (statcan.gc.ca,2014). Obesity is one of the leading contributors to heart disease and stroke. It also contributes to other serious conditions such as hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, breast, colon and endometrial cancer, osteoarthritis and gallbladder disease. Not only does obesity have a significant impact physically it can also affect your phycological well-being. Obese Canadians face adversity in everyday life. They can be perceived as lazy, unhealthy and uneducated. Also, they can be viewed negatively because of their appearance. They may experience hatred, prejudice and unfairness at their workplace, from their health care providers and in social settings. These experiences along with their current health condition may directly affect one’s self-image and may result in other psychological conditions such as depression and anxiety. Obesity has an substantial impact on the economy, with the estimated cost ranging from $4.6 billion to $7.1 billion a year. (Obesity Reviews 11,2009). This study included direct costs such as physician care, pharmaceuticals and hospital care as well as indirect costs including the loss of production in the economy caused by the premature death and the many …show more content…
Obesity is at an all time high in Canada and a change needs to be implemented immediately. Society needs to take immediate action to ensure a healthy future for our current generation and the generations to come. Reduce our portion sizes, prevent further weight gain, moderate food intake, understand the reason for weight gain, set realist goals for weight loss, education, support groups and getting active will contribute to a resolution to this obesity epidemic. Each one of us need to take initiative and make Canadians health a top priority. Canada is fat, but this can change with a commitment from health care professionals, educators, communities and the government to encourage Canadians to achieve their best possible
Canada is fat! In a 2014 Statistics Canada report an estimated 5.3 million adults are classified as obese. (statcan.gc.ca, 2014). Obesity is a progressive, often life altering chronic condition where one has too much body fat that affects their health and well-being. Obesity has increased drastically over the past 25 years. (gc.ca,2006). Physical inactivity, sedentary lifestyles, poor nutritional choices and lack of education all play a major role in the increase of obesity. Canadians must realize that there are many serious health implications that follow suit with obesity and realize the importance of taking immediate action to find a solution to improve their health and well-being.
There are …show more content…
The impact of life expectancy is substantial, “Obesity at the age of 40 has been associated with a loss of 7.1 years of life for women and 5.8 years for men”. (statcan.gc.ca,2014). Obesity is one of the leading contributors to heart disease and stroke. It also contributes to other serious conditions such as hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, breast, colon and endometrial cancer, osteoarthritis and gallbladder disease. Not only does obesity have a significant impact physically it can also affect your phycological well-being. Obese Canadians face adversity in everyday life. They can be perceived as lazy, unhealthy and uneducated. Also, they can be viewed negatively because of their appearance. They may experience hatred, prejudice and unfairness at their workplace, from their health care providers and in social settings. These experiences along with their current health condition may directly affect one’s self-image and may result in other psychological conditions such as depression and anxiety. Obesity has an substantial impact on the economy, with the estimated cost ranging from $4.6 billion to $7.1 billion a year. (Obesity Reviews 11,2009). This study included direct costs such as physician care, pharmaceuticals and hospital care as well as indirect costs including the loss of production in the economy caused by the premature death and the many …show more content…
Obesity is at an all time high in Canada and a change needs to be implemented immediately. Society needs to take immediate action to ensure a healthy future for our current generation and the generations to come. Reduce our portion sizes, prevent further weight gain, moderate food intake, understand the reason for weight gain, set realist goals for weight loss, education, support groups and getting active will contribute to a resolution to this obesity epidemic. Each one of us need to take initiative and make Canadians health a top priority. Canada is fat, but this can change with a commitment from health care professionals, educators, communities and the government to encourage Canadians to achieve their best possible