Kendall, Age 11, Cranbrook
2nd Session, 38th Parliament – November 29, 2006
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Kendall, Age 11, Cranbrook
Childhood overweight and obesity in British Columbia is an issue nearing crisis proportions. Over the last 25 years, the percentage of Canadian children measured as either overweight or obese has risen steadily and now approaches 30 percent of teen-aged boys and girls. 1 As Figure 1 shows, a previously unheard of six percent of Canadian children under the age of six are now classified as obese. Furthermore, the numbers of children who are either overweight or obese between the ages 6-to-11 and 12-to-17 have more than doubled over the last 25 years.
Figure 1: Overweight and obesity rates, by age group, household population aged 2 to 17,
Canada (excluding territories), 1978/79 and 2004
British Columbia’s children and youth have faired somewhat better than their Canadian counterparts in terms of rates childhood overweight and obesity within the population. As indicated in Figure 2, B.C. has the lowest incidence of childhood obesity in the county. However, British Columbia is in the middle of the pack when assessing the levels of overweight children in Canada. Based on this data, B.C.’s children are not (relatively) obese, but they are (relatively) overweight.
Figure 2: Overweight and obesity rates, by province, household population aged 2 to 17,
Canada (excluding territories), 2004
What is also particularly disturbing is the discrepancy between measured childhood overweight and obesity rates and the rates that are self-reported. As Figure 3 demonstrates, there exists a clear gap between the levels of overweight and obese reported by parents, and what is actually observed in clinical studies. This difference highlights the importance of raising the profile of childhood obesity in British Columbia. If we continue to deny to ourselves the true extent of the childhood obesity problem, our children will face with serious health consequences in the future.
Figure 3: Measured and Self-Reported Overweight and Obesity Rates, Canada and British Columbia, 1978-2003
(Observations between turning points linearly interpolated)
Source: Provincial Health Services Authority
In Appendix B, we highlight several recent surveys that estimate the costs of overweight and obesity in British Columbia. In summary, there are three sources of cost pressures.
First, there is the direct cost to the health system of treating the myriad of medical ills brought on by obesity and inactivity, ranging from cardiovascular disease to diabetes that may potentially lead to blindness and amputation.
Second, there is the indirect cost of premature death, as a result of these medical illnesses and shortened longevity, which has a second tier of economic cost through the loss of future economic output.
If one adds together the combination of societal costs of reduced well being, one can derive the broader societal cost through reductions in well-being not measured in the economic accounts.
While our survey shows a range of estimates, depending on methodology and scope, it appears that the direct and indirect cost of obesity and inactivity combined in British Columbia is likely in the range of one billion dollars a year. If one adds together the combination of societal costs of reduced productivity with increased susceptibility to illness and disease, one can derive total cost estimates two or three times larger in magnitude.
And the situation may only get worse. According to the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, overweight school-aged children are 50 percent more likely to become obese adults, with overweight adolescents 70 to 80 percent more likely to become overweight adults. As obese adults, today’s overweight children will display much higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, renal failure, amputations, blindness, cancer, and mental health problems. It is not surprising that unless immediate and strategic actions are taken, British Columbia’s kids, the Committee was told, may be the first generation to have a shorter life span than their parents.
The costs of obesity and inactivity to the health system, to the economy, and to societal well-being, are truly significant.
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© 2006 Legislative Assembly of British Columbia