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by Sam
Gracis
The
nutritional status of Canadian children -- who are becoming both heavier
and undernourished -- does not look promising. These conditions lead to
issues in health, school performance and behaviour in classrooms and on
playgrounds.
Between 1981 and 1996,
the percentage of overweight children in Canada rose almost 10% (Ontario
obesity rates have tripled in only a generation and half). The same time,
Canadian teens don’t eat the minimum recommended five servings of fruit
and vegetables each day.
A Manitoba study found that one in three students
ate low nutrient dense lunches, 75% of students ate lunches that contained
only two food groups and only 5% ate a lunch containing all four food
groups.Parental influence,
physical activity levels, availability of healthy choices in foods and
knowledge are contributing factors to these statistics.
The federal Minister of
Health has suggested Canadians take their health into their own hands.
They should also do this for their children.What’s the solution?
Increased physical activity, parental and age related nutrition education
in schools and media, nutrition breaks in school with high nutrient
density foods, and the use and availability of nutritional supplements and
fortified foods to all income groups.
References
CMAJ 2000; 163(11): 1429-33
British Columbia Ministry of Education, 1994 Reference p46 Nutrition
Services of Manitoba, Manitoba Health, 1994 Fitzh Program, Heart and
Stroke Foundation of Manitoba Reference p21
Nutrition Services in Manitoba, Manitoba Health 1994
Reprinted with permission from Vitamin and Supplements News, A weekly
newsletter from the Vitamin Information Service for media and health
professionals.
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