Childhood obesity is becoming a serious and pressing issue in Canadian society.

In 1985, childhood obesity in Alberta was at 10 per cent. It rose to almost 14 per cent in ‘94, and by 2004 it hit 20 per cent. In southern Alberta’s Chinook Health region, 28 per cent of 12-14 year olds are overweight or obese.

 

Reasons for the dramatic rise in the last few decades are more complex than simply just overeating.

“It’s the way we’re living. It’s the technology and our kids aren’t as active as they used to be,” says Margaret Banmann, a registered dietitian for the Lethbridge Community Health Site, as well as health promotion co-ordinator, specializing in healthy weights.

Banmann’s job is to promote healthy lifestyles, particularly in young people before they have a chance to develop an unhealthy lifestyle. She expects Lethbridge’s school district 51 to pass a new healthy food policy as early as this week. Cities throughout the province are slowly starting to adopt such policies, including a 30-minute exercise per day requirement, apart from physical education. Banmann says for children already struggling with weight issues, it’s important to be informative, without being invasive.

“We try to promote healthy food, physical activity and never use the word ‘diet.’

“Kids that are overweight already feel discriminated against. They’re teased more and they have health problems that are starting to happen much younger. We’re starting to see diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure in younger children because of their weight.”

In 2008 Alberta Health Services made a simplified food rating system with three food types: High nutrient foods, moderate nutrient foods and low nutrient foods.

“In schools they used to sell pop and chips and stuff all the time and in a lot of schools they still do, but they really need to get away from that.”

The tricky part, according to Banmann, is to not force the issue as many parents feel it impedes their basic rights.

“People have to understand why this is important for the health of their kids.”

She says it’s vital to give the children more healthy choices than not, and not to put healthy food right next to fatty foods.

“Kids don’t necessarily make the best choices. If you present them with a salad and you show them fries, they may go for the fries. If their only choice is a healthy choice, they’ll eat it.”

A huge concern for many parents is the way unhealthy foods are marketed to young children. Most recently, McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada has run countless ads featuring Canada’s athletes, potentially sending mixed messages.

“The whole marketing thing is an area that I think needs to be addressed.”

She talked about dealing with it the same way as tobacco reduction.

In places like Quebec, it’s illegal to advertise anything directly to children under 13.

“That is something that is influencing our kids, for sure…and it makes me kind of squirm.”

For parents concerned about their child’s current weight, Banmann says sticking to the Canada Food Guide is the best way. Although many parents give their children multi-vitamins, she says it’s key to get nutrients from food, particularly fruits are vegetables which are high in fiber.

“(A multi-vitamin) isn’t like a magic pill.”

While there’s not one simple reason for continuously rising childhood obesity rates in Alberta, the fact is that many things, not only in schools but in society, need to change.

“This generation of kids coming up is expected to have a lower life expectancy than (their parents)…it’s scary.”