There are many reasons why obesity puts people at risk of becoming critically ill from COVID-19
obesity
Yoni
Obesity is killing us. So why can’t we do anything about it?
‘An imperfect tool’: The controversy over whether BMI is the best measure of obesity
When Travis Saunders went for his regular physical a few years ago, a nurse calculated his Body Mass Index (BMI). At 24.5, it was at the high end of normal, and she told him to “watch his weight.” “I just kind of smiled and nodded,” he says. As an obesity researcher, Saunders knew that since …
Are food labels more sell than science?
Probiotic ice cream. Antioxidant 7Up. Cupcakes that are “a good source of iron.” Grocery store shelves are lined with products that claim they’re good for you. Some food labels say they’ll help you dodge health conditions – like oatmeal boxes that say “oat fibre helps reduce cholesterol.” Others let shoppers infer the benefits of vitamins or minerals, …
Treating childhood obesity with family-focused interventions
Many Canadian children struggle with their weight. The number of kids with childhood obesity has been growing since the 1970s, with measured rates rising from 6% in 1978 to 13% in 2004. In addition, 18% of children are overweight. It’s part of a larger global trend: 23% of children in developed countries were overweight or obese in 2013. In …
Addressing obesity epidemic requires a redesigned health care system
There’s a common catch phrase used by those championing efforts to prevent childhood obesity: “This may be the first generation of kids to not outlive their parents.” Sounds terrifying – except that so far, there is little evidence to support this idea. Over the past several decades we have seen a remarkable increase in adult …
Weight loss surgery: what do we know about quality?
Weight loss is a constant struggle for millions of Canadians, with one in four Canadian adults classified as obese. Losing weight is not easy. Many Canadians try to lose weight through diet, exercise, behavioral modification and medications. Bariatric, or weight loss surgery is often the final effort for many on a long, difficult road to …
Does knowing your health risks change your behavior?
Exercise is good for you. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Stop smoking. Drink less alcohol. Such messages abound in public health campaigns and there is a firm belief that they will ultimately change behavior. This is based on the assumption that individuals are motivated to change behaviors to reduce their individual health risks. While healthy …
Do medical schools teach future doctors about weight management?
In my day to day I often will supervise residents or medical students who have taken it upon themselves to learn more about obesity medicine. I say taken it upon themselves because despite diet and weight related/responsive conditions being huge contributors to a physician’s caseload, medical schools and residency programs don’t seem to think that …
Childhood obesity: it’s about more than banning marketing of junk food
The media had a field day recently with the proposal from Ontario’s Healthy Kids Panel to ban marketing of junk food to kids under 12. Sadly, this covereage missed a number of the panel’s crucial recommendations that would address the biggest contributors to childhood obesity. Childhood obesity rates are increasing across Canada. Over a quarter if children and …
Why Ontario’s Healthy Active Kids Panel’s report is so important (with one caveat)
If you’re an Ontarian, by now I’m sure you’ve heard a fair bit about Ontario’s release yesterday of the recommendations made by our Healthy Kids Panel. I’m not going to go into a point by point discussion and dissection. Overall the report’s solid. It makes 23 recommendations and as I was warned in an off-the-record chat …
The talk the food industry couldn’t bear to hear
A little over a month ago I was invited by the Ontario Medical Association to give a talk at a food industry breakfast. I was asked to speak about what I thought the food industry could do to help further public health. 3 days prior to the talk, after my flights and hotel were booked, …
Did the OMA go too far with its childhood obesity recommendations?
The uproar has been furious. Literally. And I certainly understand why. But it’s not because the Ontario Medial Association (OMA) went too far, it’s because the OMA lost control of the message. For readers who aren’t aware, on Tuesday the OMA held a press conference where they outlined multiple initiatives that they hope if enacted, …
Need & access to bariatric surgery in Ontario
The frequency of obesity has skyrocketed across Canada, and its treatment is a major challenge to the health care system. Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for obesity that appears to be good value for money. Although Ontario is expanding bariatric surgery capacity, some are concerned that capacity remains below current needs. What is bariatric …
Do lessons from the fight against smoking apply to reducing obesity?
A multi-pronged strategy was needed to significantly reduce smoking rates across Ontario over the last few decades. Obesity is a current and worsening public health threat. The obesity epidemic may also need to be attacked from many angles, but may be harder to effectively fight than smoking. Healthydebate.ca took to the street in December 2010 …