On Wednesday November 24th, at the Ontario Public Health Association
conference, Dr. Sheela Basrur, the province's chief medical officer of
health, raised an alarm about an obesity epidemic. Noting that almost 50%
of adults are overweight, and that obesity in children has tripled in the
last 20 years, she called for action at all levels.

"The province’s health system is committed to reversing the trend to
overweight and obesity, but it cannot solve the problem on its own.
Because physical, social, cultural and environmental factors have such a
strong influence on weight, Ontario needs a broad, multi-sectoral,
community-wide response to this epidemic."

She calls on all levels of government, the health sector, the food
industries, work places, schools, families and individuals to become part
of a comprehensive province-wide effort to change all the factors that
contribute to unhealthy weight. Dr. Basrur urges them: "act now to create
communities that promote healthy eating and regular physical activity."

view the story at
http://www.sci-tech-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=28677

or the Ministry of Health release and link to the report on 'Healthy
Weights, Healthy Lives' at
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/ministry_reports/cmoh04_report/cmoh_04.html

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