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| Diabetes Action Plan |
In 2004, approximately 222,000 British Columbians were living with diabetes. More than 90 percent of these have Type 2 diabetes, which usually occurs in adults who are also overweight or obese due to unhealthy eating and physical inactivity. Children who are obese are also beginning to develop Type 2 diabetes in alarmingly large numbers.
A doctor in Campbell River who spoke to our committee told us: “Type 2 diabetes was formerly called adult-onset diabetes because it was primarily a problem afflicting older adults — middle-aged, 40, 50 and 60 — and most of these were overweight. But now we’re seeing this condition in younger and younger kids.”
That’s why we recommended that:
- The Ministry of Health continue to develop an action plan for population-health interventions to address Type 2 diabetes, largely attributable to weight gain and physical activity. The action plan should include a specific component for addressing diabetes in children and youth.
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| Comments by Ralph Sultan on Sunday, January 07, 2007 at 19:45 |
Thank you to all of the Grade Four/Five Social Studies students and yourself from Robert Ogilvie Elementary School in Fort St. John, for your support of our report outlining a strategy for addressing the problem of childhood obesity and inactivity.
Your students are right, when they judge that imposing the 7% sales tax on soft drinks and chocolate bars is unlikely to present much of a price deterrent to most, and therefore unlikely to change buying behaviour by very much.
But we are talking messages and symbolism here, as much as buying behaviour.
(continued in the next comment box) |
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| Comments by Ralph Sultan on Sunday, January 07, 2007 at 19:41 |
(continued from previous comment box)
1. The commitee concluded that it was really bizarre that soft drinks and chocolate bars would be uniquely singled out for tax exemption, in the 21st century – very inconsistent with government policy. The reason this exemption was originally inserted into law, has been lost in time.
2, Messaging and communication. We wanted to send a message to the soft drink, chocolate bar, and confection industry that they should start doing some deep soul searching about what they are selling and the damage it is causing. If we succeed in doing that, we shall have accomplished a lot, because they are the ones who will determine distribution and product strategies in the future, more than government laws.
Thank you for communicating with us. It is really wonderful to see that younger people are studying and reflecting on these important public health issues.
Ralph Sultan, MLA
Chair, Select Standing Committee on Health |
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| Comments by Donna Bulmer on Wednesday, January 03, 2007 at 01:25 |
Hello,
Congratulations from my Grade Four/Five Social Studies students and me on the completion of your final report making recommendations to our provincial government on ways to curb childhood obesity and encourage greater physical activity in BC.
We would like to thank your clerk, Ms. Ryan-Lloyd for acknowledging receipt of our letter, which included our opinions and suggestions on how these problems might be addressed, to your Health Committee.
While we agree with and support many of your committee's recommendations, we disagree with placing additional tax on junk food as a way to reduce its purchase and consumption by children. As we noted in our letter, we think that young people will have little difficulty paying such a tax.
Thank you on behalf of all British Columbians for taking the time to research and compile your report on this important concern.
Division Nine Grade Four/Five Social Studies Students and Teacher
Robert Ogilvie Elementary School
Fort St. John, BC |
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