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Alias
Joined: 24 Jan 2003
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 Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 6:45 am Post subject: Obesity on the rise |
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While this article deals with obesity in Canada I think it is relevant to many Western countries.
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OTTAWA - Canadians are much fatter than they were a quarter-century ago, a major new study by Statistics Canada has revealed.
The ground-breaking report released yesterday found 23% of adult Canadians (5.5 million) were obese in 2004 -- compared with 14% of adults in 1978-79.
Just as alarming was the rise in obesity among children. In 2004, 8% of kids (about 500,000) aged two to 17 were obese -- compared with 3% in 1978-79.
The new report uses data that record, for the first time, actual height and weight measurements of Canadians. It is a much more accurate way of determining obesity rates, compared with the surveys over the last decade that allowed respondents to "self-report" their own body measurements -- a process which invariably led to underestimates of obesity.
The latest survey is based on information collected from 35,000 people last year, using actual body measurements. More than 25 years have passed since a similar survey in 1978-79. Using the results from both surveys, Statistics Canada researchers said they are able to derive a more "realistic picture" of the trend in overweight and obesity rates in recent years.
The report warned the rising trend of child obesity "is of particular concern because overweight or obesity in adolescence often persists into adulthood."
Among children aged six to 17, the likelihood of being overweight or obese tended to rise with time spent watching TV, playing video games or using a computer, said the study. Rates of overweight and obesity among youth varied across the country, with the highest rates in the Atlantic provinces.
The one bit of good news is Canada's adult obesity rate of 23% was lower than in the United States, where 30% of adults were obese in 2004.
Nonetheless, the new Canadian figures are disturbing for health experts who say they are a reflection of a growing trend internationally. Indeed, experts say obesity is becoming one of the biggest health threats facing the globe and is contributing to an increase in cardiovascular diseases, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, stroke, gallbladder disease and some cancers. The World Health Organization estimates one billion adults worldwide are overweight and at least 300 million are obese.
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Full Article
Being from Atlantic Canada I can vouch for the fact that we have the fattest Canadians in the country. |
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numazawa
Joined: 20 Mar 2005
Location: The Concrete Barnyard
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| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 am Post subject: |
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| Wow... a "ground-breaking report" -- that is fat! |
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jlb
Joined: 18 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:32 am Post subject: TV |
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I love it that all the obesity articles talk about how TV/Computer/Video Game usage leads to increased obesity rates...doesn't take rocket science to figure that out. Also, how people who are active in their leisure time have a lower incidence of obesity. Go figure.
I read an article a few days ago about how a study was done on obese kids in the USA and the number one factor they found was if the kid had a TV in his room. Interesting stuff. |
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khyber
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Compunction Junction
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| Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 1:45 am Post subject: |
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Computers!!!
the New TV!!!!
they should just get all the kids addicted to coke like in the 80s...that would bring the level down a bit non? |
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Alias
Joined: 24 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 2:02 am Post subject: |
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| I believe heroin is better for weight reduction. |
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numazawa
Joined: 20 Mar 2005
Location: The Concrete Barnyard
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| Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 3:10 am Post subject: |
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| Decapitation is faster. It is also known to reduce stress. |
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