Feb. 27, 2013 Obesity rates across Canada are reaching alarming
levels and continue to climb, according to a new University of
British Columbia study. Published today in the Canadian Journal
of Public Health, the study provides the first comprehensive
look at adult obesity rates across Canada since 1998, complete
with "obesity maps." "Being obese or overweight significantly
increases the risk of chronic illnesses, such as heart disease,
diabetes, and some cancers," says study lead author, Prof.
Carolyn Gotay in UBC's School of Population and Public Health.
"Our analysis shows that more Canadians are obese than ever
before -- on average, between one fourth and one third of
Canadians are obese, depending on the region." The Maritimes and
the two Territories had the highest obesity rates from 2000 to
2011 -- more than 30 per cent of the population in these regions
is estimated to be obese. British Columbia had the lowest
overall rates, but obesity still increased from less than 20 per
cent to almost 25 per cent.