| Press release: OPHA CALLS ON PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT FOR AN IMMEDIATE, WELL-RESOURCED HEALTHY WEIGHTS STRATEGY. |
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Location: Home > Advocacy at OPHA > OPHA Advocacy letters > Press release: OPHA calls on provincial government for an immediate, well-resourced healthy weights strategy. |
November 24, 2004
The Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA) is pleased with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's recognition of the epidemic proportions of obesity and the declining rates of physical activity, as outlined by Dr. Sheela Basrur, Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH), in her 2004 report Healthy Weights, Healthy Lives, at the 2004 annual OPHA conference.
The report on healthy weights in Ontario emphasized the magnitude of the obesity issue and paralleled this as "the new tobacco". However, given the rate at which the obesity epidemic is growing, there is greater urgency to take immediate action. The CMOH underscored the need for a multisectoral approach involving all levels of government and public, private and voluntary sectors to reverse this trend and change our obesogenic environment.
The OPHA believes a number of determinants impact healthy weights, including environmental, social, economic and cultural factors. The Association calls on the provincial government for a comprehensive healthy weights strategy to help children, youth and adults overcome the barriers to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Additional investment of provincial resources is also needed to operationalize this strategy at the local community level.
Dr. Basrur has sounded the alarm bell, and the OPHA anticipates the imminent release of a provincial strategy and investment to reverse the obesity epidemic in Ontario.
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Founded in 1949, the Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA) is a voluntary, charitable, non-profit association. OPHA is an organization of individuals and Constituent Associations from various sectors and disciplines that have an interest in improving the health of the people of Ontario.
MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Sophie Bart, OPHA Coordinator of Communications and Volunteer Resources, at (416) 367-3313 / 1-800-267-6817 ext. 237 or sbart@opha.on.ca
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