Wednesday 22 June 2011

Obesity numbers still creeping up

It's something that we have been aware of for many, many years now, and yet obesity levels in every age range and social class are rising. An article published in The Globe and Mail today reports that this is not only a severe health problem, but an economic one too. The latest math shows that obesity in Canada is costing the government up to $7 billion per year, both from direct healthcare costs and and indirect costs such as lost productivity of people unable to work either because of disability or because they are unable to find employment due to discrimination.

The study quoted in the article, published by the Canadian Institute for Health Information and the Public Health Agency of Canada, has now reported that 1 in 4 Canadians are obese (that is, with a BMI of over 30), while a staggering 62% of the population - that's almost 13 million people -  classified as overweight. In Canada, the percentage of obese adults has doubled in the past 30 years, while the number for children and youth has tripled.

The study also says that physical inactivity – meaning a person is active less than 15 minutes a day – is the greatest predictor of obesity. It warns that obesity significantly increases the risk of 18 chronic illnesses, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis and some forms of cancer.

Other developments in the news includes the emergence of new 'obesity drugs' for which a number of pharmaceutical companies are currently trying to get FDA approval.

Many worry about the consequences of releasing a potent weight-loss drug on a population which seems unwilling to make simple dietary or lifestyle changes.

Tuesday 14 June 2011

Men officially more vulnerable than women

Yesterday saw the beginning of International Men's Health Week, which exists to heighten awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.

It has now been established that men really do have greater demands on their health than women, and a recent study in Europe found that premature death rates are much higher in men than in the fairer sex across all age ranges (630,000 men die every year aged between 15 and 64 compared with 300,000 women). In general, young men are four times more likely to die than women, and men die sooner from cancers that should affect men and women equally.

So why the discrepancy? One of the main reasons often cited for the gender imbalance is men's reluctance to talk about health and personal issues. The theory goes that men don’t seek help early enough, engage in risky “macho” behaviours, and are irresponsible about their health, as well as being less well informed about and less interested in health issues.

But the reality is a little more complex - an important factor in mens poor health is the stereotypical role they have thrust upon them by society. Men are still seen as primary breadwinners in many cases, and so work longer hours, sleep less, and are more prone to be stressed and obese.

The theme for this year's Men's Health Week is "Let's Talk" - in the hope that men and boys of all ages will become more comfortable discussing health worries, and that the male population will be encouraged to think about regular health checkups. Keep an eye out for events, talks, and health screenings in your area all week.

For more on IMHW see the  www.menshealthmonth.org/week/index.html, or check out this great Canadian resource www.aboutmen.ca