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Obesity in Canada: where and how many?
A Vanasse1, M Demers, A Hemiari
1Family Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke , Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Alain.Vanasse@USherbrooke.ca
International Journal of Obesity (2005)
|November 9, 2005
Summary
Obesity rates vary significantly across Canadian regions. Low physical activity and poor fruit/vegetable intake are strong predictors of higher obesity rates, highlighting key public health concerns.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Rising global obesity rates, particularly in industrialized and English-speaking nations.
- Obesity results from genetic predisposition, excess caloric intake, and low energy expenditure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map and compare regional obesity prevalence across Canada.
- To examine the ecological association between obesity, physical inactivity, and low fruit/vegetable consumption.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of the 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey data.
- Utilized self-reported Body Mass Index (BMI), physical activity, and dietary intake from 106 Canadian health regions.
- Employed traditional and cartogram mapping to visualize geographical distributions, accounting for population density.
Main Results:
- In 2003, 15.2% of Canadians aged 20+ were obese.
- Obesity rates ranged from 6.2% (Vancouver) to 47.5% (aboriginal population area).
- Low leisure-time physical activity and low fruit/vegetable consumption were significant predictors of obesity (OR=9.2, PPV=93% simultaneously).
Conclusions:
- Significant regional disparities in obesity prevalence exist within Canada.
- High rates of physical inactivity and low fruit/vegetable consumption are strongly associated with higher regional obesity rates.
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