Fat Study
May 14, 2008
CANADIANS ARE LYING TO THEMSELVES ABOUT THEIR WEIGHT "AND" THEIR HEIGHT. A NEW REPORT BY STATS-CANADAREVEALS THE TRUE STORY. THE STUDY LOOKED AT HOW HEAVY AND HOW TALL WE "SAY" WE ARE, COMPARED TO WHAT THE REAL MEASUREMENTS SHOW. FROM WHAT WE "SAY", 15 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION IS OVERWEIGHT. BUT MEASUREMENTS SHOW IT'S ACTUALLY 23 PERCENT. AND YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GROWING OBESE MORE QUICKLY THAN THE REST OF THE POPULATION. A QUEEN'S PROFESSOR SAYS PARENTS ALLOW THEIR CHILDREN TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON THE COMPUTER OR WATCHING TV -- A STARTLING 5 OR 6 HOURS A DAY ON AVERAGE. HE SAYS PARENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THEIR CHILDREN, BUT DON'T FOLLOW THROUGH WITH OUTDOOR PLAY TIME AND EXERCISE. PROFESSOR IAN JANSSEN: "SETTING GUIDELINES ON HOW MUCH SCREEN TIME KIDS CAN HAVE. YOU KNOW YOU CAN WATCH ONE HOUR OF TELEVISION AND THAT'S IT FOR THE DAY. YOU CAN DO A HALF HOUR OF CHATTING ON THE COMPUTER AND THAT'S IT FOR THE DAY. AND PARENTS ACTING AS GOOD ROLE MODELS AS WELL. SO IF THE FATHER IS SITTING THERE WATCHING FOUR HOURS OF TELEVISION AND SAYS, SORRY SON, YOU CAN'T WATCH FOUR HOURS OF TELEVISION. I CAN, BUT YOU CAN'T. THAT'S NOT REALLY THE APPROPRIATE THING TO DO."
