By Karin Yeske

Global impact of obesity costs $2 trillion: report

Nov 24, 2014 | 11:39 AM

The global economic impact of obesity costs about $2 trillion which is nearly the same cost of smoking or armed violence, according to a new report. 

More than 2.1 billion people or almost 30 per cent of the world’s population is overweight or obese, said the report put out by McKinsey and Co. It suggests that almost half of the global population will be overweight by 2030. 

In Saskatchewan, the MEND (mind, exercise, nutrition, do it) program is working to change that in children. The program targets kids in Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert and Moose Jaw that have a higher than healthy body weight. Kids attend two-hour sessions twice a week for 10 weeks with their parent, guardian or older sibling to learn about healthy eating and physical activity. 

The free program was started by the University of Saskatchewan and works with kids from the age of 2 to 13. Funded by the Saskatchewan Blue Cross, MEND educates up to 12 families per session.  

Half of the program focuses on nutrition, healthy eating practices, goal setting and includes a tour of a grocery store. The second half of the program focuses on exercise. 

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“Families and direct participants, so the kids themselves, are very excited about the results. We see a lot of changes in eating behaviours and physical activity behaviours,” Carol Rodgers, dean of the college of kinesiology at the University of Saskatchewan, said.  

After the MEND program, kids are choosing less pop and more water, healthier snacks, eating less fast food, spending less time in front of a TV or playing video games, more physically active and have more self-esteem and confidence, she said. 

In 2011, a report called Obesity in Canada put out by the Canadian Institute for Health Information and the Public Health Agency of Canada found that the Mamawetan/Keewatin/Athabasca region of Saskatchewan has one of the highest obesity rates in Canada at 35.9 per cent. Obesity can lead to diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and some cancers. 

About 29 per cent of children in Saskatchewan are overweight, according to Rodgers. Obesity factors include genetics, environment and the opportunity to eat healthy or participate in physical activity. 

The MEND program tries to support some of those risk factors. 

“For example with our program in Prince Albert, we also work with a community kitchen to provide food and learning about good, positive ways to cook food to make it more healthy. Those are initiatives we are just starting to support people who might not have much access to good, healthy food,” she said, adding they are working to subsidize travel costs for some participants. 

Rodgers said it’s important to address obesity at a young age. An obese two year old has a 40 per cent chance of becoming an obese adult, while an obese 15 year old has a 70 per cent chance. 

Rodgers is hoping to expand the MEND program to La Ronge, North Battleford, rural areas and southern Saskatchewan. The expansion is dependent upon funding.

kyeske@rawlco.com

On Twitter: @karinyeske