| Facts
about Childhood Obesity
There are many stories in the news about children's health,
obesity, and physical inactivity.
Here is a list of some general facts,
British Columbia statistics, and national
statistics on these issues.
General Facts
- 42-63% of obese school-age children become obese adults
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- Kids need at least 30 minutes of physical activity
each day, and should aim for 90 minutes of daily
physical activity for optimal growth and
development.
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- Obesity is an imbalance in the amount of energy
consumed and the amount of energy expended
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British Columbia Statistics
- Physical inactivity is conservatively estimated to cost $250 million a year in BC
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- Approximately 4% of the provincial health care
budget is spent on obesity related illnesses
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Canadian Statistics
- The prevalence of childhood obesity tripled in Canada between 1981 and 1996
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- More than half of all Canadian children are not active enough for optimal growth and development
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- A 1998/99 National Longitudinal Study of Children
and Youth found more than one-third of Canadian
children were obese and 18% were classified as obese
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Return to Healthy Active Parents and
Kids
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