The Importance Of Childhood Obesity

The purpose of this proposal is to demonstrate why obesity in children and adults should be considered an important national issue that requires the development of a public policy. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) (2011), being obese entails having a body mass index of 25 or higher. In Canada, about one in every four adults is considered obese (Tran, Nair, Kuhle, Ohinmaa, & Veugelers, 2013). Furthermore, childhood obesity rates are three times higher than it was 20 years ago (Tran et al., 2013). Childhood obesity is linked to diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular risks, and sleep apnea (Tran et al., 2013). Obesity is a pressing issue and problem with regards to the Canadian health policy. If the Canadian government …show more content…
Organizations such as PHAC, Pan-Canadian Public Health Network (PCPHN), and Health Canada have an active role in assisting with the rise of obesity by promoting exercise and healthy eating (PHAC & CIHI, 2011; PCPHN, 2013). For instance, in 2007, Health Canada legislated that nutrition labeling was mandatory for all prepackaged food items (Health Canada, 2015). This initiative was done by Health Canada (2015) to decrease obesity and promote a healthy diet by showing Canadians what they are actually consuming. In addition, PHAC and CIHI (2011) reported statistics of Canadian obesity and proposed interventions. Several school programs have already been initiated by various provinces across Canada (PCPHN, 2013). For instance, Alberta has the Healthy School Community Wellness Fund and Ontario has the Ontario’s After School Program, which support schools in creating an active environment for children and youth (PCPHN, 2013). Several programs are offered by various key stakeholders such as, schools and public health, but in order for these programs to continue and grow, primary healthcare must have a greater impact on the Canadian healthcare