Obesity issues growing larger, cost province $3B annually

The popularity of fast food, recreational activities that involve sitting on a couch and increased automobile use are taking their toll. Obesity has been gaining ground in Quebec for the past 40 years, and the associated medical costs have now been put at $3 billion a year. The Institut national de la santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) has produced a timeline to analyze the problem and assess its progress over the years. For the purposes of the study, obesity is defined by a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more. The findings of the committee are striking. In 1981, just two per cent of children ages six to 17 were deemed obese. More than 30 years later, that proportion has swelled to 10 per cent. Among adults, the INSPQ study found that in 2015, about 25 per cent of Quebecers were designated as obese compared with 14 per cent in 1978. Other findings of the study include: Between 1978 and 2013, the proportion of Quebec households with two cars went from 16 per cent to 36 per cent. Today, about 20 per cent of jobs require a moderate level of physical activity, while in 1961 that proportion was closer to 50 per cent. Servings in restaurants have become increasingly larger. The advent of the internet and social media has led a growing number of people to engage in sedentary activities. Diabetes, a chronic condition that can cause serious health-related problems has been linked to obesity. Diabetes is also making its mark in Quebec, with more than 600,000 residents living with the disease.