The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

Select Standing Committee on Health

A Strategy for Combatting Childhood Obesity and Physical Inactivity in British Columbia Report

2nd Session, 38th Parliament – November 29, 2006

< Conclusion – Table of Contents – Endnotes >

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Select Standing Committee on Health recommends that:

Monitoring

1. the government, in consultation with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of British Columbia, school districts, and the British Columbia Medical Association, develop the ways and means of scientifically measuring rates of child overweight and obesity, and physical inactivity in British Columbia — either by random sampling or by census — according to methods devised by competent statisticians and public health experts.  The British Columbia Child Health Registry must collect information pertaining to childhood obesity anonymously and with parental consent.

Food Security

2. the government continue to invest in community kitchen projects in order to assist young families in improving their skills in food preparation and healthy eating.  In addition, the Committee encourages the government, communities, and local farmers to further expand Good Food Box programs.
3. the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, in partnership with the British Columbia Agriculture Council, the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets, and grocery stores, engage in an aggressive campaign to promote British Columbia fresh fruits and vegetables.
4. local governments, the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, and local farmers’ markets continue to support and expand farmers’ markets to ensure their accessibility to a broad range of consumers.

Aboriginal Health

5. the First Nations’ health restorative measures, including programs aimed at reducing mortality, obesity, and inactivity, as outlined in the 2005 Kelowna Accord between First Nations and First Ministers, be implemented on an expedited basis by the British Columbia government.

Ethnic Communities

6. programs coordinated by ActNow BC should fully consider the cultural background of important population segments, rank-ordered in terms of their measured susceptibility and vulnerability to obesity and inactivity.

ActNow BC

7. the government continue to designate ActNow BC as its coordinating fitness, diet and wellness agency.
8. all ministries should review their service plans to ensure that the objectives of ActNowBC are considered fully.
9. ActNow BC conduct a comprehensive review of programs directly funded by government and non-government agencies pertaining to physical activity, healthy eating, healthy schools, healthy workplaces, and healthy communities, and ensure that such programs are effective in targeting obesity and physical inactivity in both children and adults.

Public Health

10. the government implement the recommendation of the Select Standing Committee on Health 2004 report, to gradually raise the proportion of the Ministry of Health budget devoted to public health promotion and disease prevention from approximately three percent to six percent of total health spending.

Diabetes Action Plan

11. 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.

Vending Machine and Food Sales in Public Buildings

12. the government redouble its efforts to remove junk food from schools and modify food offered in schools to be consistent with nutritional guidelines for fat, sugar and salt content.
13. the government order the mandatory removal of all products classified as “Not Recommended” under the Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in B.C. Schools from vending machines and other food outlets on property owned or managed by the provincial government by 2009, including, but not limited to, schools, hospitals, universities, and cafeterias in government buildings, and follow the 50-40-10 food contents outlined within the Guidelines.
14. the government require all kiosks, restaurants, snack shops and other food outlets operating within properties owned or operated by the provincial government to adopt the Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in B.C. Schools, and prohibit the sale of “Not Recommended” products.
15. municipal governments be encouraged to consider adopting measures similar to the Committee’s proposed vending and food sales guidelines.

Social Services Tax Exemptions

16. the government introduce amendments to the Social Services Tax Act, (Section 70) removing the exemption provided to “candies and confections” and “soft drinks” under the Act.
17. the government, using the Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in B.C. as a template, remove the Social Services Tax exemption provided to all unhealthy foods and beverages meeting the definitions of “Not Recommended.”

Nutrition and Exercise Council

18. reporting to the minister responsible for ActNow BC, the government create a Nutrition and Exercise Council, composed of senior representatives of different levels of government, healthy living advocates and stakeholders, and food and beverage industry officials to examine and report out annually on progress made on the following issues:

• Negotiate with the food, confectionary, and beverage manufacturers and distributors to achieve voluntary reductions in the fat, sugar, and salt content marketed in British Columbia.
• Develop warning labels alerting consumers to high fat, sugar, and salt foods, such as a red-amber-green system, and/or a calorie-load-per-serving system.
• Investigate the feasibility of new junk food taxes on non-nutritive foods and beverages.
• Enhance corporate self-regulation of food and beverage advertising and marketing directed at children under twelve.
• Develop ongoing public marketing campaigns to raise awareness of diet and exercise issues and assist in lifestyle changes.
• Publish an annual report measuring progress in improving diet and activity levels and reducing obesity.

Healthy Eating Programs

19. the Ministry of Education continue to develop and promote programs that educate children on healthy eating habits and encourage school-aged children to choose healthy meal options.

School Fruit and Vegetables Program

20. the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands and the Ministry of Education work with ActNow BC to expand the School Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program across the province.

Hot Lunch Programs

21. the government provide additional resources to expand subsidized hot, nutritious school lunch programs in schools with the greatest need.

Physical Activity in Schools

22. the Ministry of Education collaborate with stakeholders in the education system to encourage physical activity for all students in the K-to-12 education system.
23. in developing programs to support increased activity levels — especially for children in middle and secondary schools — the Ministry of Education should work with physical education and nutrition specialists to encourage a comprehensive education program that provides non-competitive and universal participation through, for example, an expansion of the ActionSchools! BC program.

Physical Activity Infrastructure

24. the government, school boards and municipalities continue to work to develop and expand joint-use agreements between school boards and municipalities to maximum utilization of education and physical activity facilities.
25. the government — in partnership with school boards, municipalities, and other funding agencies —  formulate intermediate-term plans for the aggressive maintenance, replacement, and expansion of physical activity infrastructure; including, but not limited to gymnasia, weight rooms, sports fields and physical activity studios.

Safe Routes to School

26. in consultation with school boards, parent advisory committees, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, local police forces, and local governments, the provincial government ensures that all elementary, middle, and secondary schools in the province develop safe routes to school.  Furthermore, schools should actively promote such safe walking routes to parents, while actively discouraging motor vehicle use to and from school.
27. the government provide resources to local governments and school boards to develop and promote safe routes to school programs and provide additional resources to assist municipalities to address existing walking and cycling infrastructure deficiencies relating to the safe routes to school program.

Physical Activity in the Community

28. the Ministry of Transportation further expand funding available to local governments under the Cycling Infrastructure Partnerships Program, and be directed to include performance measures for major urban bikeways and walkways in its annual service and funding plans.
29. the province adopt “active living in walkable communities” as a goal for all British Columbians, and that the ‘LocalMotion’ grant program be permanently established to accelerate walkway, trail, and bikelane development in partnership with B.C. communities.
30. the government, in partnership with the Union of British Columbia Municipalities, develop annual awards for developers and urban and rural communities to recognize best practices in residential development, in terms of densification, recreation, and zoning practices that encourage physical activity.

Breastfeeding

31. the health regions, hospitals and community health agencies continue to actively promote and support the benefits of breastfeeding through pre- and post-natal support programs, with an emphasis on supporting first-time mothers. 
32. the government continue to model positive workplace practices in accommodating working mothers who return to work while continuing to breastfeed.
33. the government examine whether legislative or regulatory action may be appropriate to enforce workplace standards for mothers who choose to breastfeed.

Early Childhood Interventions

34. the health care sector, ActNow BC, and other key stakeholders engage in a coordinated effort to further develop, monitor and assess the effectiveness of obesity prevention programs for early childhood.
35. ActNow BC work with the Ministry of Children and Family Development and early childhood educators to develop a comprehensive preschool health education program for implementation in daycares, preschools and community settings.

Social Marketing Campaign

36. under the direction of the Nutrition and Exercise Council, the government provide stable, long-term funding for a social marketing program that reinforces positive messages on physical activity and healthy nutrition.

< Conclusion – Table of Contents – Endnotes >

© 2006 Legislative Assembly of British Columbia