Is Fat the New Tobacco?

For decades, public awareness programs have explained the terrible impact tobacco has on the length and quality of your life. These efforts at education have paid off: smoking rates in Canada have plummeted by 53% since the early 1970s.

Meanwhile, obesity rates have skyrocketed during that same time period. The Annual Report Card on Canadians’ Health showed that 47% of Canadian adults are now overweight—this number is identical to smoking rates 30 years ago. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, obesity is now one of the greatest public health threats in Canadian history. When you combine obesity and smoking rates, you find that nearly two-thirds of Canadian adults are endangering their health.

47% of Canadian adults are now overweight—this number is identical to smoking rates thirty years ago.

A body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 is considered overweight. A BMI higher than 30 increases your risk of heart attack or stroke by more than 50%. Extra weight is most harmful when it is carried around the waist (appleshaped) as opposed to the hips (pear-shaped).

Deaths caused by obesity have almost doubled over the past 15 years. Fat also greatly increases the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and liver disease. Alarmingly, these adult illnesses are now appearing regularly in children and recent statistics show that 29% of girls and 35% of boys are overweight.

Computers, TV, video games and convenient and cheap processed foods have normalized unhealthy lifestyles for many Canadians. In time, a similar effort may be made toward promoting better lifestyle choices as has been used to combat tobacco but, until then, it is up to you to ensure you are eating sensibly and getting exercise every day.

Being underweight creates its own health problems, so it’s best to stick to a simple equation: if the energy you take in equals the energy you expend, your body weight will remain stable.

Tools

Use this formula to calculate your BMI: BMI = weight(kg)/height(m)2.

Also, visit these sites if you’d like more advice. Then, take the next step by shutting down your computer and getting outside!

Canada’s Healthy Living Guide:
www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/guide

BMI calculator:
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/weights-poids/guide-ld-adult/bmi_chart_java-graph_imc_java_e.html

Good food choices:
www.healthcheck.org