TORONTO: A new report from the Canadian Medical Association indicates a growing number of young men and women with obesity in Canada. The report states that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people with obesity increased by approximately eight percent compared to the previous ten years. The closure of gyms, arts and sports events, schools, and offices during that period significantly impacted the health of young people. Additionally, increased mobile phone usage and unhealthy eating habits have led to obesity among young men and women, according to Dr. Melanie Henderson, a pediatric endocrinologist and researcher. She also noted that job stress has contributed to weight gain for some individuals.
The association’s report is based on 15 years of data, specifically analyzing the Body Mass Index (BMI) of approximately 750,000 individuals aged 18 and older. The report highlights that obesity is a major health problem facing the country and is growing at an alarming rate.
While obesity rates increased by about eight percent over 11 years from 2009 to 2020, there was a more than one percent increase recorded between 2020 and 2023. This is double the increase seen before the COVID-19 pandemic, the report states. Laura Anderson, an associate professor at McMaster University, noted that public health restrictions during the pandemic may have influenced obesity rates. Laura also mentioned a sharp increase in obesity rates among young women between 2020 and 2023, with approximately a 4.7% increase recorded.
Dr. Melanie Henderson suggested that the federal government should strive to make healthy food and beverages accessible to the public. She added that the first step in this process is to create policies that ensure healthcare services are available for treating obesity.
