While obesity isn鈥檛 a new problem, the rate at which it鈥檚 affecting children has become so alarming, the B.C. government is pairing up with the to implement province-wide programming to curb unhealthy habits.
Founded in 2004 by a B.C. pediatrician and lawyer who wanted to reduce unhealthy weights in Canadian children, the foundation now works directly with the B.C. Ministry of Health and Provincial Health Services Authority to create the societal shift towards healthy eating and active lifestyles for people of all ages, including our children and youth.
鈥淭here is an epidemic of unhealthy weights of the people in North America,鈥� said Dr. Tom Warshawski, who鈥檚 a pediatrician and foundation board member.
鈥淚n childhood, one in three have an unhealthy weight, or unhealthy weight trajectory,鈥� Warshawski said. 鈥淏y adulthood, 60 per cent of adults are either overweight or obese, and that鈥檚 a result of our habits.鈥�
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This month, Chilliwack joins nine other B.C. communities to become the first in the province to pilot the , which has set its sights at reducing obesity-related chronic diseases through prevention and education early on.
The program, which is free for participating families, will also be offered in Prince George, Kelowna, Surrey, Burnaby, Vancouver, Campbell River, North Cowichan and Greater Victoria.
鈥淭he goal of the program is that people generally have an idea of what they should be doing, but struggle with the doing,鈥� said Warshawski.
鈥淲ith this free program, we鈥檙e hoping to help people (not only) increase their (health) knowledge, but most importantly, make those positive behaviour changes.
鈥淲eight isn鈥檛 even mentioned,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f you get the habits right, the weight will follow. This is about embracing healthy habits for the whole family that can last a life time.鈥�
Based on the previously implemented MEND program, which was harvested from the UK, Warshawski said the Family Healthy Living Program takes best practices from around the world and puts a Canadian spin on them for British Columbians.
Targeted at school-aged children who have a BMI-for-age greater than the 85th percentile, the program is for the entire family, and will cover topics such as grocery shopping and budgeting, physical activity, healthy eating and nutrition, positive parenting practices, and mental health.
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Running for 10 weeks, the program features 20 sessions: a 90-minute in-person session at the Neighbourhood Learning Centre on Wednesdays for the whole family, and a weekly, hour-long session to be completed online by parents at their convenience.
鈥淔irst off, everyone 鈥� parents, children, siblings 鈥� meets together, then there are some fun games for the kids while the parents get more information around the topics of the night,鈥� said Warshawski.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about healthy weight, it鈥檚 (also) about the mental health of the whole family.鈥�
Warshawski said there are plenty of other things families can do to maintain their health.
鈥淭he single most important is eliminating sugary drinks, the pop, the iced tea, the juice. You shouldn鈥檛 drink your fruit: you should eat your fruit and drink your water.鈥�
Also, cut back or eliminate processed foods 鈥� all the white stuff 鈥� and eat as many vegetables as possible at all meals. Breakfast shouldn鈥檛 be 鈥渟ugar-bomb鈥� cereals,as they contribute to weight gain, and last, but not least, eating at home as a family unit.
鈥淏ut there鈥檚 a strong correlation between fast food, or restaurant meals, and unhealthy weight gain,鈥� said Warshawski. 鈥淎nd being as physically active as possible and reducing screen time. That鈥檚 really the bulk of what we want people to learn and do.鈥�
