Obesity and sedentary lifestyles are putting Canadians at risk for type 2 diabetes, health care workers warn.

The annual meeting of the Canadian Diabetes Association began Thursday in Vancouver. Delegates are reviewing the latest advances in research and treatment for an epidemic of adult-onset diabetes.

"Most of the kids I see are having borderline blood pressure, lipid anomalies," said Dr. Laurent Legault, who works at a weight loss clinic at Montreal Children's Hospital.

A sedentary lifestyle is a risk factor for heart disease and diabetes

"I wouldn't be surprised if some of them have problems in their 30s."

• FROM SEPT. 6, 2002: One hour of exercise a day - new dietary guideline

Doctors say a combination of poor eating habits and a lack of exercise has tripled the number of obese children in Canada over the past 20 years. Thirty per cent of children are either overweight or obese.

Technology tends to make us more sedentary

Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk of Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., specializes in the relationship between physical activity and disease.

• FROM SEPT. 30, 2002: Activist agenda set out in throne speech

He says a clear national fitness initiative such as the one proposed in this week's speech from the throne is needed, but no one knows the most effective way to spend the money because the "evidence base is not there yet."

Katzmarzyk said two international studies are under way to find the best way to combat obesity and disease, but the results are still several years away.

Technology plays a role in our sedentary lifestyle, according to Dr. Mark Tremblay, the dean of the kinesiology college at the University of Saskatchewan.

"Automatic can openers, automatic garage door openers, remote control everythings, and of course that all removes movement from our lives and our systems deteriorate accordingly," Tremblay said.