For immediate release: November 22, 2002
Canadian Paediatric Society, College of Family Physicians and Canadian
Teachers' Federation Call for Urgent Action to Boost Physical Activity
Levels in Children and Youth
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OTTAWA -- The Canadian Paediatric Society,
the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Canadian Teachers'
Federation issued a joint call for action today urging parents, educators,
politicians and policy-makers to act immediately to address the alarming
rise in the incidence of child and youth physical inactivity and obesity.
They also officially endorsed a new set of resources released
today by Health Canada and the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology
(CSEP), aimed at increasing physical activity among Canada's youngest
generation -- a group already recognized as seriously at risk for premature
death and disability because of their unprecedented levels of sedentary
behaviour.
The urgent call for action comes just weeks after the release
of the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) by Statistics
Canada, which showed estimates of obesity among children were higher than
estimates for adults. These findings were consistent with studies by the
Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute, who warn that the health
of over half of Canadian children and youth is threatened due to high
levels of physical inactivity.
Increased reliance on television, video games, and computer
technology as pastimes for children, and the diminishing priority of physical
education in Canadian schools, are cited by experts as the major reasons
for the growing numbers of sedentary children and teenagers.
The Canadian Paediatric Society and the College of Family
Physicians of Canada are alarmed that too many children are sitting inside
watching television instead of playing outdoors, particularly because
most children already sit at school for five to seven hours every day.
A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal
showed that the average Canadian child is sedentary for three to five
hours a day in front of the TV. The study also showed that since 1981,
the prevalence of overweight boys increased from 15 percent in 1981 to
35.4 percent in 1996, and among girls from 15 percent to 29.2 percent.
During the same time frame, the prevalence of obesity in children tripled,
from 5 percent to 16.6 percent for boys and from 5 percent to 14.6 percent
for girls.
"A major concern regarding childhood obesity is that
obese children tend to have an increased risk of becoming overweight adults
and risk higher morbidity and mortality rates in adulthood. Increasingly,
doctors are seeing a rise in the incidence of Type 2 diabetes melitis,
hyperlipidemia, and hypertension in severely overweight children,"
said Dr. Andrew Pipe of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. "Physical
inactivity is one of the major health issues confronting children and
youth in our entire community and must be addressed as a priority.”
"Treating obesity in children is a challenge for paediatricians
in general and even specialized obesity clinics in North America have
a less than 50% success rate. This is why the recent research effort announced
on obesity prevention is critical at this time. Our children are in serious
trouble," said Dr. Claire LeBlanc, paediatric sports medicine physician
and member of the Canadian Paediatric Society. "Parents, teachers
and other caregivers have an important role to play in the daily activities
of children. Ensuring that they are getting adequate physical activity
for healthy growth and development is part of this role.
"The disease process leading to osteoporosis, hypertension, and cardiovascular
disease begins in childhood if physical activity levels are insufficient.
We can help prevent these diseases through an active lifestyle,"
Dr. LeBlanc stressed. "Families need to understand that physical
activity is as important in protecting one's health as wearing a seatbelt.
Being active should be as habitual as brushing your teeth."
The Canadian Teachers' Federation concurs with the
advice of the Canadian Paediatric Society and College of Family Physicians
but warns that without increased resources for phys-ed programming, quality
physical education will remain just an ideal for Canada's children and
youth. Currently, only one-third of all schools have formal physical education
programs, and programming varies depending on the province, the school
board, and the school.
"There is no question that our students benefit from
physical activity academically, socially, and psychologically," said
Doug Willard, President of the Federation. The Federation strongly backs
the implementation of the new Health Canada resources and quality physical
education programs in all schools and grade levels but recognizes that
there is no strong consensus on how to achieve an appropriate balance
between academic and physical education within core curriculum. Government
cuts to physical education in elementary and secondary schools have teachers
worried for children's health. The Federation said schools need
broad support from parents, school boards, all levels of government and
the business community to reduce the dangerous trend of sedentary children
and youth.
Mr. Willard suggested that extra-curricular programs involving
the community-at-large and school boards could be one way to marry the
academic demands with children's need for daily physical activity. "I
think it's clear that schools cannot and should not be expected to do
it all. Parents have to buy into an active lifestyle and model that behaviour
to their children - and so should the communities in which we live.”
The Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and
Dance (CAHPERD) also supports the importance of a school community approach
that involves parents, schools, and community programs that help kids
to be active. Crucial to the formula are quality, daily physical education
programs that teach all students, from Kindergarten to Grade 12, the skills
and knowledge they need to be physically active. “Kids spend more
of their waking time in school than anywhere else, yet a minority of them
receive a quality physical education program,” says Guy Tanguay,
Executive Director of CAHPERD. CAHPERD believes that reaching students
through school physical education programs rules out the inequities that
some children face due to a lack of time or financial resources.
"Researchers in our society have clearly established
the health benefits of increased physical activity. It is critical that
all Canadian children and youth be given the opportunity to take advantage
of
the resources developed by CSEP and Health Canada for use in the classroom
and at home," said Dr. Richard Hughson, CSEP President. "These
resources provide the foundation upon which our children and youth can
establish an active lifestyle that will have a huge long-term impact on
healthcare in Canada," he said.
Copies of Canada's Physical Activity Guides for Children
and Youth and support resources for parents, teachers, children and youth
are available free by calling 1-888-334-9769. or by visiting <www.healthcanada.ca/paguide>.
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For more information, please call:
Kathy Hendrick
(613) 266-6755;
Susan King
(613) 612-4601; or
Linda Larocque
(819) 423-6440
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