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Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique logoLink to Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique
editorial
. 2012 May 1;103(3):164–169. doi: 10.1007/BF03403806

Major Initiatives Related to Childhood Obesity and Physical Inactivity in Canada: The Year in Review

Mark S Tremblay 12,13,
PMCID: PMC6974099  PMID: 22905632

Abstract

This manuscript briefly reviews 15 significant initiatives related to childhood obesity and physical inactivity in Canada between September 2010 and September 2011. These include the: announcement of a Federal-Provincial-Territorial framework for action to promote healthy weights; implementation of the nutrition labeling initiative; launch of the CBC “Live Right Now” campaign; announcement of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s innovation strategy funding related to obesity; publication of the Canadian Health Measures Survey physical activity findings; release of new Canadian physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines; launch of ParticipACTION’s “Think Again” campaign; workshop on building trust to address the epidemic of obesity; start of the Canadian Pediatric Weight Management Registry; initiation of “Our Health Our Future: A National Dialogue on Healthy Weights”; release of the Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth; National Obesity Summit; Nature Play Day and Sports Day in Canada; development of the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy; and the creation of Active Canada 20/20–A National Physical Activity Plan. The diversity and intensity of activity addressing the childhood obesity and physical inactivity “epidemic” in Canada is encouraging and must be maintained and enhanced.

Key words: Obesity, overweight, motor activity, exercise, sedentary behaviour, policy

Footnotes

Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

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