OTTAWA - In response to Statistics Canada's release of the latest number of overweight
and obese Canadians, Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh and Minister of State (Public Health) Dr. Carolyn Bennett
recognized the need to take action to address the significant public health threat caused by obesity in
Canada.
"Obesity is a very serious and complex issue that requires collaboration to address," said Minister Dosanjh. "We are committed to intensive action on an Integrated Strategy on Healthy Living and Chronic Disease."
Data confirms that obesity rates in Canada have nearly doubled among adults and nearly tripled among
children over the past 25 years. Serious health risks are associated with overweight and obesity including
high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.
"Encouraging and supporting healthy weights will require cooperative action across all sectors and levels
of government," said Minister Bennett. "Social, economic, physical and environmental factors must be addressed
to create environments that will support Canadians in making healthy choices."
The Government of Canada will continue to work closely with provinces and territories, non-governmental
organizations and other stakeholders to help better understand the complexities of obesity and find solutions
that enable Canadians to choose healthier diets and include more physical activity in their lifestyles.
Budget 2005 provides $300 million over five years to encourage healthy living and to prevent chronic
diseases such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. The Integrated Strategy focusses on promoting
health and preventing disease through healthy eating and physical activity. It will address the conditions
that lead to unhealthy eating, physical inactivity and unhealthy weights.
The Strategy addresses the needs of all Canadians along the health continuum -- from those who are healthy,
to those at high-risk, to those living with chronic diseases.
Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada continue to develop national policies and programs
that encourage healthy eating, physical activity and healthy weights. They include:
Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating, Canada's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living,
and a combination of the two, Canada's Guide to Healthy Eating and Physical Activity. These documents
were created to assist Canadians in their efforts to be physically active and make healthy food choices.
Health Canada is revising Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating, which is scheduled for release by early
2006.
The new nutrition labelling regulations, combined with education on their use, offers a significant
public health opportunity to improve the nutritional health and well-being of Canadians. Having nutrition
information that is easier to read and on more foods is essential to making informed choices. The new
Nutrition Facts table will allow Canadians to compare products more easily, assess the energy value of
and nutritional value of more foods and better manage special diets.
In 1999, the Government of Canada introduced the Canadian Diabetes Strategy (CDS) to combat diabetes
with an initial investment of $115 million over five years. To address the continuing challenges of the
diabetes epidemic, the non-Aboriginal components of the CDS was renewed and enhanced to $18 million a
year as part of the Integrated Strategy on Healthy Living and Chronic Disease that was announced in Budget
2005.
The Aboriginal component known as the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative which will be enhanced in the
amount of $190 million is part of the Aboriginal health package announced at the Special Meeting of First
Ministers and national Aboriginal Organizations in September 2004 and confirmed in Budget 2005. Partners
in this national initiative include the provinces and territories, various national health bodies and
interest groups, as well as Aboriginal communities across the country. Current activities focus on prevention,
health promotion, surveillance, as well as improved access to services and enhanced treatment and care
for Aboriginal people.
For more information on these national policies and programs please visit the websites listed below:
Canada's Food Guide
to Healthy Eating revision
Canada's
Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living
Canada's Guide to Healthy Eating and
Physical Activity
Nutrition Labelling
education
Chronic
disease prevention and control
Canadian
Health Network
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Media Inquiries:
Health Canada
Carole Saindon
(613) 957-1588
Public Health Agency of Canada
Jean-Mathieu Dion
(613) 948-7970
Office of the Minister of Health
Adèle Blanchard
(613) 957-0200
Office of the Minister of State (Public Health)
Tricia Geddes
(613) 299-6940
Public Inquiries:
Health Canada
(613) 957-2991
