University of Winnipeg February 24, 2011 Dr. Donna Turner CancerCare Manitoba Setting the stage: what we know about obesity and nutrition in Manitoba?

So, what do we know about: Obesity Nutrition & physical activity ?

Why is this important? A healthy lifestyle that includes nutritious eating and physical activity can help to reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic disease. Research shows that up to 50% of cancers could be prevented through lifestyle changes.

How do we compare? Obesity rates are slightly higher in Manitoba than the Canadian average. Fruit and vegetable consumption is lower in Manitoba than the Canadian average. Total physical activity in Manitoba is similar to the national average.

What else do we know? Obesity rates have remained constant over the past five years. In Manitoba, the proportion of obesity is higher among men than women. Why is this important? Obesity is linked to many health conditions including cancer. The World Health Organization estimates that diet is directly related to 30% to 40% of cancer cases in men and up to 60% of cancer cases in women. Nationally, obesity rates are on the rise and research is linking the rise to increased risk of cancer. How do we compare? More improvements could be made in Manitoba. Prevalence of obesity in Manitoba is higher than the national average by about 2%. The lowest obesity rate in Canada is found in British Columbia. The rate is about 5% lower than observed in Manitoba.

What does this tell us? In Manitoba, the majority of the population does not consume the recommended number of fruit and vegetable servings.

What else do we know? Women eat more fruits and vegetables daily than men. Vegetable and fruit consumption is lowest among Manitobans aged 35 to 44 years old. Vegetable and fruit consumption has increased over the past five years. Why is this important? Eating well can reduce overall cancer risk. A high intake of green and yellow vegetables and fruits is linked to a reduced risk for lung, colon, esophagus and stomach cancers. Diets high in plant foods can protect against cancers of the endometrium and colon.

More could be done to encourage good eating habits. Fruit and vegetable intake in Manitoba is 5- 10% lower than the national average. Quebec has the highest fruit and vegetable consumption in Canada. The rates are over 10% higher than Manitoba's. How do we compare?

What does this tell us? Over half of Manitobans are physically active.

What else do we know? Most population-based reports of “physical activity” have focused only on leisure time activity, which does not include exercise rates among people whose work is physically labour- intensive. Even using these measures, the majority of men and women are physically active during their daily routine. Physical activity rates have increased in Manitoba between 2001 and Why is this important? Regular exercise can decrease the risk of developing cancer. Physical activity lowers the risk of developing colon cancer and may lower the risk for breast, prostate and endometrial cancers. Some research suggests that moderate to high levels of activity have been found to lower the risk for stomach, lung and liver cancers.

How do we compare? Manitobans are fairly active, similar to other Canadians. The proportion of Manitobans who are physically active in their leisure time is similar to the national rate, but incorporating work (and travel) exercise increases this rate substantially. British Columbia is the most active population in Canada. The leisure time physical activity rates are about 5% higher than Manitoba's.

What about Manitoba’s youth?

Manitoba Youth Health Survey School division approvals sought to conduct survey Reports were generated at the school, community, school division and regional levels Provincial roll up report released Cancer_Registry/HeathyLiving2009_v2.pdf Census of grades 9 to 12 in all schools (some schools 6 to 8) 46,919 students participated in the survey In total, there were 390 schools, 265 of these schools included grade 9-12 All 11 Manitoba Regional Health Authorities participated

Demographics

Want to do your part for the Manitoba economy? Lead a healthy lifestyle. That’s the message from a new report that, for the first time, puts a provincial economic cost on such health risks as smoking, obesity and lack of exercise. Economy of scale

Making the Case for Primary Prevention: An Economic Analysis of Risk Factors in Manitoba - H.Krueger & Associates Inc.

The price we pay…

Making the Case for Primary Prevention: An Economic Analysis of Risk Factors in Manitoba - H.Krueger & Associates Inc.

Protecting your children from the health risks of obesity Over the last 25 years, obesity rates among children and youth in Canada have nearly tripled. This represents a troubling statistic as excess weight has many negative effects on children’s health. With excessive weight gain, kids are at higher risk of developing a range of health problems in childhood and in their later years, including: physical health: hypertension, high blood pressure or heart disease; Type-2 diabetes; sleep apnea and other breathing problems; abnormal or missed menstrual cycles; bone and joint problems; and reduced balance. emotional health: low self-esteem and negative body image; and depression. social health: feeling judged; and being teased or bullied. Weight problems in childhood are likely to persist into their adult years. Teenagers who are obese have an 80% chance of remaining obese as adults.

Canada’s Food Guide Help your child be physically active Children and teenagers should participate in at least 60 or more minutes of physical activity most days of the week. This can include walking to and from school, participating in sports or riding a bike. Support your child by setting a good example. Try to add physical activity to your daily routine and encourage your children to join you. Also, it’s important for you to decrease the amount of time your children currently spend on sedentary activities; limit their screen time of television, video games and web surfing to no more than two hours per day. Canada’s Physical Activity Guides Why the rise in obesity rates? A number of factors contribute to rising rates of overweight and obese Canadian children. Conditions in homes, schools and the community play an important role in shaping individual diets and physical activity patterns.

Going forward… Engage in knowledge development and exchange. A number of factors contribute to rising rates of overweight and obese Canadian children. –decrease time spent watching TV/playing video games –find ways to introduce physical activity into your daily life –what you buy is what you (and your family) will eat. Start by making wise food choices when you shop. –Look for opportunities in your neighbourhood to help your family stay active. –Have meals together as a family as often as possible.