It's a good news-bad news scenario, according to the latest information from Statistics Canada. A November 2006 study found that while fewer Canadians are gaining weight, those who are tend to gain more weight than they used to. But, overall, the rate of weight gain is slowing down.
It's sort of an inflation rate of the body. Weight it still going up, but not as quickly. It means that — if current trends continue — 44 per cent of men and 46 per cent of women will continue to see their waistlines expand until they're knocking on obesity's door.
The numbers
0.74 kg/0.57 kg
The average self-reported weight gain for men and women, respectively, aged 18-64 years, between 2002/03 and 2004/05.
The good news: the rate of weight gain is slowing down. Between 1996/97 and 1998/99, men gained an average of 0.96 kg and women gained 0.86 kg.
The bad news: we're still gaining weight, on average.
44%
The percentage of men who gained weight between 2002/03 and 2004/05.
The good news: that's significantly lower than the percentage of men who gained weight (49 per cent) eight years earlier.
The bad news: while a smaller percentage of men gained weight, they tended to gain more weight than those who gained weight eight years earlier (4.99 kg versus 4.56 kg).
32%
The percentage of women who lost weight between 2002/03 and 2004/05.
The good news: that's higher than the percentage of women who lost weight (29 per cent) eight years earlier.
More good news: women who lost weight between 2002/03 and 2004/05 reported losing significantly more weight (4.91 kg versus 4.35 kg) than women who lost weight eight years earlier.
The bad news: while there was a smaller percentage of women who gained weight between 2002/03 and 2004/05, those who did tended to gain more weight (4.78 kg versus 4.5 kg) than they did eight years earlier.
47.9%
Percentage of Canadians who were overweight in 1998.
59.0%
Percentage of population considered overweight in Prince Edward Island, Canada's "fattest" province, according to Statistics Canada. It's interesting to note that Canadians living in rural areas are more likely to be overweight than those in urban areas.
57.3%
Percentage of population overweight in St. Catharines, Ont., Canada's "fattest" city in 1998 according to Statistics Canada. Regina and Saint John weren't far behind.
57%
The percentage of Canadian men deemed overweight in 1996. This is up from 48 per cent in 1981. By comparison, only 35 per cent of women were overweight in 1996, up from 30 per cent in 1981.
33%
The percentage of Canadian boys (aged 7-13) in 1996 likely to be overweight when they become adults (age 18). This is up from 11 per cent in 1981. For girls in 1996, 27 per cent were likely to be overweight by the time they were adults, compared to 13 per cent in 1981.
64%
Percentage of girls (aged 12-19) deemed physically active in 2000/01. Fewer boys of the same age group were physically active that year, about 55 per cent.
42%
Percentage of men (aged 20-64) deemed physically active in 2000/01. That year men had a slight advantage, with 41 per cent of women found to be physically active.
Source: Statistics Canada: Canadian Community Health Survey: A first look
80%
Likelihood that a child will become obese if both parents are obese. This is due to a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors.
Source: National Institute of Nutrition
More than $1.8 billion
The estimated total direct cost of obesity in Canada in 1997. This was about 2.4 per cent of the total health-care budget. The three contributors were hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, and coronary artery disease.
Source: Canadian Medical Association Journal
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External Links
- TRANSforming the Food Supply
- Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation - Trans Fats
- International Food Information Council: trans fats
- Statistics Canada: Canadian Community Health Survey: Obesity among children and adults
- Adult Obesity in Canada: Measured height and weight
- Laval University research chair on obesity
- Health Canada: Family guide to physical activity for children
- A parent's guide to healthy eating and activity
- International Food Information Council: trans fats
- Web MD: trans fats
- Surfwax.com: articles on trans fats
- Omega-3:
- American Heart Association
- Omega-3 fatty acids: the Mayo clinic
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration
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