Childhood Obesity

Canada is facing an obesity epidemic. Currently, one in four children and youth in Canada are overweight or obese. Increasingly, obese children are being diagnosed with a range of health conditions previously seen almost exclusively among adults, including type-2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

Efforts to promote healthy weights:

In September 2010, Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers of Health agreed to focus efforts on curbing childhood obesity and promoting healthy weights by endorsing Curbing Childhood Obesity: A Federal, Provincial and Territorial Framework for Action to Promote Healthy Weights (Framework).

Through the Framework, Canada’s Ministers of Health agreed to make childhood obesity a collective priority, to champion this issue, and to coordinate complementary actions within many areas of Canadian society to help create the conditions for healthy weights so that children have the healthiest possible start in life.

In March 2011, Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers launched a national dialogue on childhood healthy weights. Through Our Health Our Future, Federal, Provincial and Territorial governments met with stakeholders across the country to gather their perspectives and encourage shared leadership and actions to address childhood overweight and obesity.

Over the past year, Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments have been working together to identify actions that can be taken across jurisdictions to influence the conditions that promote healthy weights.

Actions Taken and Future Directions 2011 on Curbing Childhood Obesity: A Federal, Provincial and Territorial Framework for Action to Promote Healthy Weights reports on the progress of federal, provincial and territorial governments to advance the Framework and provides recommendations for future actions that can be taken.

Canada's federal, provincial and territorial governments are committed to working together and with other sectors to promote healthy living, reduce overweight and obesity and help our children and youth have the healthiest possible start in life.

Everyone has a role to play.

For more information:

• Towards a Healthier Canada - 2015 Progress Report on Advancing the Federal / Provincial / Territorial Framework on Healthy Weights
• Towards a Healthier Canada - 2013 Progress Report on Advancing the Federal / Provincial / Territorial Framework on Healthy Weights
• Actions Taken and Future Directions 2011: An Overview
• Actions Taken and Future Directions 2011 on Curbing Childhood Obesity: A Federal, Provincial and Territorial Framework for Action to Promote Healthy Weights

Related information:

• Canada, Mexico, and the United States Join Efforts to Address Childhood Obesity in North America
• Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers Endorse Canadian Sport Policy and Renew Commitment to Sport, Physical Activity and Healthy Weights in Canada
• Our Health Our Future – A National Dialogue on Healthy Weights Dialogue Report
• Curbing Childhood Obesity: A Federal, Provincial and Territorial Framework for Action to Promote Healthy Weights
• Healthy Living