Your kids and junk food
Monday, March 04, 2013 by: SooToday.com Staff
NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
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Ontario's Doctors encouraged by obesity report
TORONTO (March 4, 2013) - Ontario's doctors are very encouraged by the release of "No Time to Wait: The Healthy Kids Strategy" report, and would like to congratulate members of the Healthy Kids' Panel for their work on this crucial health issue.
The OMA would especially like to add its support to the panel recommendations on restrictions in the marketing of junk food to kids, which we have called for since 2005, and more in-school physical education and calorie labelling in restaurants, which Ontario's doctors first recommended in 2009.
In addition, in October 2012, Ontario's doctors advocated for tax incentives to encourage healthy food choices, and graphic warning labels on high-calorie, low-nutrition foods.
Ontario's doctors look forward to working with government, the food and restaurant industry and other health sector partners toward the implementation of programs and policies that help to tackle childhood obesity.
Quick facts:
• Recent Statistic Canada figures, based on World Health Organisation criteria, show that the true number of overweight or obese children in Canada is higher than originally believed - from 26 to 31.5 percent of the population of 5-to 17-year olds
• Obesity costs Ontario $2.2 to $2.5 billion per year
• 75 percent of obese children become obese adults.
"Parents need better information so that they can make healthy choices for their kids. Since calories are key to understanding weight gain, the recommendation to provide calorie counts on restaurant menus will help everybody," said Dr. Doug Weir, president, Ontario Medical Association.
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zartan 3/4/2013 5:04:54 PM ReportSurely there is someone out there without a fat kid who would like to comment, just one? No?
crashed13 3/4/2013 7:10:52 PM ReportWhen I was a kid, a fast food restaurant or home delivery was a "Rare" treat, not a daily routine god given right.
celeste5 3/4/2013 8:23:30 PM ReportPeople say they just don`t have the time to cook a decent meal, while find it, junk food is quick and easy but very fattening.
I remember we a couple at our house for 2 months and the lady bought 5 different kinds of chips and my son said, Mom, look, are they ever bad.
Junk food was a treat at our house too and so was pop.
Nats85 3/5/2013 11:58:28 AM ReportMaybe if they made junk food expensive and healthy food cheaper they could help this issue. To eat "Organic" and "healthy" is EXPENSIVE...commonly people in low income brackets suffer from poor health in regards to being over weight, but try this. Go to the grocery store, make two seperate lists, and pay for them seperately. Purchase processed packaged meat, (or hot dogs), chips, canned soups, packaged "snacks", frozen foods, popular kids' cereal & things that aren't "healthy". Now purchase fruits and vegetables (preferably organic as that is the top recommendation), organic oat cereal (hot or cold OR even things like Special K is expensive but "better for you"), fresh meats, and everything RECOMMENDED. The price difference is ridiculous. They want us all to eat healthier? Then make it more inexpensive so that all income brackets have equal opportunity at it.
