Canadians are eating their way into a health epidemic.
According to a recently released report by the Senate, there is an obesity crisis in this country and Canadians are paying for it, with their lives and wallets.
In fact, findings identify obesity costs Canada between $4.6 and $7.1 billion annually in health care and lost productivity.
It also showed that each year 48,000 to 66,000 Canadians die from conditions linked to excess weight.
Right now two thirds of adults are either considered overweight or obese along with 33 per cent of children.
In total 21 recommendations were released on how Canada can combat these rising rates of obesity.
Among them is a call to update Canada’s food guide.
Lethbridge College’s Chef Doug Overes says although the food guide still has a role to play certain areas do need to be examined, including dairy.
“Dairy is needed as you’re forming as an adult, but after you form as an adult, your bones and your teeth and your nails and everything is set, you don’t need to consume as much dairy.”
Nutritional consultant Cris Robinson agrees saying dairy is the most common food sensitivity she sees in her clients.
“As much as it is a source of calcium and that’s the biggest reason we are pushed to drink dairy, there are lots of other sources of calcium. All your dark green leafy vegetables have calcium…if you’re eating a wide variety of nutrient dense food it’s easy to get a lot of calcium.”
In fact, nutrient dense food she said is key to healthy eating.
“You can follow the Canada food guide right now and eat packaged fruit cups and hot dogs and ice cream and still meet the guidelines. It is out of balance and there needs to be a focus on less junk, less processed foods.”
And according to the report 62 per cent of the Canadian diet is processed and ready-to-eat foods.
The report also recommends a tax on sugar and artificially sweetened drinks, a ban on advertising of food and drinks to children and a national campaign to combat obesity.
But Robinson says in order to solve the problem we need to teach people how to eat and get kids eating healthy from the get go.
“We need to not have some of the foods even on the market so not tax it, why make it? Why are we making food with bizarre ingredients in it? There are chemicals in our food that don’t need to be there.”
For more information or to read the report visit parl.gc.ca.
