The pressures and conveniences of our fast-paced, modern lifestyle, such as computers, television, increased inactivity and high-fat, high-salt convenience foods have contributed to an epidemic of obesity. In Alberta, one in four children is obese, and in the Capital Health region, 50 per cent of adults are either overweight or obese.
Excess weight not only affects your health today but increases your risk for developing chronic disease. Obesity can contribute to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, colon cancer, respiratory problems, infertility and a whole host of other health concerns.
The good news is that you have control of your health and your future. By achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight, you decrease your risk for health problems. For example, studies by the Diabetes Prevention Program show that modest increases in physical activity and a seven per cent decrease in body weight are beneficial in lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes in individuals who are obese and inactive.
To support your Weight Wise lifestyle change, the following resources give you more information about the importance of weight management and reflect recent population health research as it relates to obesity. Topics include information on Body Mass Index (BMI), obesity and population health research.
Aplastic Anemia
People who are overweight or obese are at greater risk for a wide range of chronic and potentially fatal health problems.
Obesity
People who are overweight or obese are at greater risk for a wide range of chronic and potentially fatal health problems.
Physical Inactivity
Lack of regular physical activity puts people at risk for serious health problems. In particular, physically inactive individuals are 90 percent more likely to acquire coronary artery disease.
Population Health Research
One of the keys to health is eating a variety of fruit and vegetables in sufficient amounts. They are an important part of a healthy diet, and sufficient daily intake can help prevent chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, diabetes and stroke.
People who are overweight or obese are at greater risk for a wide range of chronic and potentially fatal health problems.
Lack of regular physical activity puts people at risk for serious health problems. In particular, physically inactive individuals are 90 percent more likely to acquire coronary artery disease.
What's New About Improving the Health of Canadians Promoting Healthy Weights. The solution to promoting healthy weights is often presented as a simple one -eat right and exercise.
Weight Management
Even the few people who manage to keep weight off must either stay on their diets or continue exercising to do so stop the diet or exercise less and the weight comes back.
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