Childhood Obesity In Canada

1570 Words7 Pages
One of the leading causes of death in Canada is obesity. Obesity can occur to people of all ages, including children and adolescents. Childhood obesity is a major health concern affecting Canadian society. Childhood obesity is a form of obesity that affects children and adolescents. It is defined as an excess accumulation of body fat in people 18 years of age and younger.In Canada, the number of children who are overweight or obese is staggering as “according to the World Health Organization standards of measurement, 31.5 per cent of five to 17 year-olds — an estimated 1.6 million Canadians — were classified as overweight (19.8 per cent) or obese (11.7 per cent) from 2009 to 2011” (Crowe). Childhood obesity is a growing trend in Canada and…show more content…
Many fast food chains such as McDonalds have relied on and achieved notoriety for the heavy use of advertisements on major television networks to increase the number of customers coming into their restaurants. McDonalds was named “the fourth most advertised brand as of 2012” (Advertising Age). From expensive Super Bowl commercials to daily infomercials, the regulation on what can and cannot be broadcasted ultimately rests on the federal government. The advertising and promotions of fast food restaurants on various media platforms in Canada such as television, is regulated by federal or provincial agencies such as the human rights commissions, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, etc. There has been a significant increase in the number of fast food and junk food advertisements in the media over the last three decades. As well, obesity amongst children and teens has grown substantially since the 1980s, therefore establishing a link between fast food television commercials and their effect on childhood obesity. Advertising fast food to children is especially harmful because they are unable to understand the truth behind the numerous advertisements and marketing gimmicks that are regularly broadcasted during children's television programming. Fast food companies have continued to protest that they are not solely to blame for the childhood…show more content…
Canada is unlikely to shed its title as the only G8 country without a national meal program” (Leeder). The types of foods consumed affect the child’s moods, behaviour, growth and cognitive skills. There have been numerous studies done regarding the negative effect junk food has on health, especially on children and adolescents. This comes as no surprise: junk food which contains high amounts of sugar, salt, and fat provides little to no nutrition value to the human body. Child development and puberty are crucial stages in life where the human body requires nutrients to help the body sustain normal body functions, including the ability to focus and learn effectively. Students coming to school without eating breakfast already lack the energy necessary to achieve in school. In more than several schools in the Jane and Finch area, “after some creative fundraising by the Toronto Foundation for Student Success, a universal morning meal pilot program was implemented at seven schools. Now, three years later, there are strong signs that the principals were right: Not only do satiated students exhibit less aggression, they attend more classes, get fewer suspensions and receive higher grades, according to interim calculations by the TDSB” (Leeder). Several factors compromise

More about Childhood Obesity In Canada

Open Document