Backgrounder
The Government of Canada is working to help Canadians live healthy lifestyles that include physical activity, healthy eating and maintaining a healthy body weight. Our Government funds research, develops educational resources, and works with provincial and territorial governments as well as non-government partners to create policies and programs that support health living.
Today, Minister Algukkaq announced support for nine research projects on physical activity and childhood obesity, including:
- Dr. Mark Beauchamp (University of British Columbia) will determine the effect of a unique intervention designed to increase physical activity among adolescents;
- Dr. Jonathan McGavock (University of Manitoba) will study the effect of different exercise programs on the health of overweight youth at risk for type 2 diabetes;
- Dr. Sonia Anand (McMaster University) will study how body fat accumulates in newborns of Indian ancestry in Canada and India;
- Dr. Zubin Punthakee (McMaster University) and Dr. Scott Lear (Simon Fraser University) will examine the determinants of obesity in Asian Indian children living in Canada and India;
- Dr. Lara Boyd (University of British Columbia and the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute) will study the effect of the combination of brain stimulation and arm exercises on arm function in rehabilitation after stroke;
- Dr. Donna Goodwin (University of Alberta) will examine the experience of disabled persons making the transition from rehabilitation to community fitness programs;
- Dr. Marina Mourtzakis (University of Waterloo) will study the combined benefits of nutrition and exercise for breast cancer patients undergoing treatment;
- Dr. Michael Stickland (University of Alberta) will investigate the physiological effect of exercise on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and,
- Dr. John Tyberg (University of Calgary) will study the importance of arterial reservoir in the distribution of blood to vital organs in the body and how exercise affects the volume of this reservoir.
Promoting Healthy Living to Canadians
These are some of the ways that the Government is promoting the benefits of healthy living to Canadians:
- The Child Fitness Tax Credit
- The Eat Well and Be Active Educational Toolkit is designed to help health and education specialists teach children and adults about healthy eating and physical activity.
- The Government of Canada and Food & Consumer Products of Canada are working together on the Nutrition Facts Education Campaign, an initiative that will give Canadians the information they need to make informed food choices to maintain and improve their health.
- Canada's Physical Activity Guides provide information on how Canadians can integrate healthy physical activity in their daily lives.
- Setting targets for physical activity for children and youth, in partnership with provinces and territories, and measuring progress against targets through surveillance.
- Funding to support a range of community-based programs and services such as the Canadian Diabetes Strategy, Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative, Healthy Living Fund, Aboriginal Head Start, the Community Action Program for Children, Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program, the Maternal Child Health Program and renewal of the food mail program for northern communities.
- Committing to work with provincial and territorial governments, and other sectors, on Curbing Childhood Obesity: An FPT Framework for Action to Promote Healthy Weights.