Let’s face facts: We are fat—as fat as we’ve ever been and getting fatter by the day. From 1978 to 2004, the proportion of Canadian adults aged 25 to 34 who were obese grew from nine percent to 21 percent. All told, an estimated 11 million Canucks are overweight, according to Dr. Arya Sharma, scientific director of the Canadian Obesity Network. In a recent survey of nearly 1,000 2 readers, almost 80 percent told us they believe there is an obesity epidemic, and 75 percent said their health is “top of mind.” As it should be.
The obesity epidemic is fast becoming the new smoking epidemic—and junk food the new “addiction.” Obesity is the second most preventable cause of death after smoking and is putting a huge strain on our health care system, which may be ill-prepared for the enormous surge in fat-related diseases, such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, gallbladder disease and osteoarthritis.
......Look around you, even in the mirror, and you’ll see obese people—or people on their way there. Go to Disney World and you’ll see a microcosm of how fat we’ve gotten: There are fat couples waddling around or using electronic scooters because they simply can’t support their own weight and—perhaps most disconcerting—entire fat families.
......Recently, after his city was listed as one of America’s fattest cities, the mayor of Oklahoma City put the whole city on a diet (including himself), challenging them to collectively shed one million pounds as their New Year’s resolution (residents can track their weight loss at the website thiscityisgoingonadiet.com). Here in Canada, many cities are overweight, with St. John’s, N.L., and Hamilton, Ont., at the top of the scale.
......It’s time to start reversing the tide to start fixing this. Governments need to make this a priority and increase public awareness, but ultimately it’s up to us to empower ourselves and live healthier lives. While genetics do play a part in what size and shape you’ll be, other contributing factors include a sedentary lifestyle (a new Statistics Canada report estimates that only about 28 percent of the adult population participated in some form of sport in 2005, down from 34 percent in 1998 and 45 percent in 1992), poor eating habits and, interestingly, peer groups. The point is, we need to stop obsessing about the vanishing waistlines of Hollywood starlets and instead focus on our own rapidly expanding ones.
......After you’ve gone through the guide, email us at
feedback@2magazine.com with the subject line “health/fitness guide” to share your own struggles and success stories and give us input on this special section.
DIARY OF A FAT COUPLE
Calgary couple Michaelle and Stephen LeManne want to get back to their old, healthier pre-marriage forms and be around to see their baby boy, Wesley, grow old. She wants to lose 55 pounds; he wants to lose 35 pounds. Can they do it? Here are their diary excerpts over several months, documenting their personal battle of the bulge.
By Michaelle and Stephen LeManne
BODY LANGUAGE
What you don't know can hurt you...literally. Brush up on your health and fitness knowledge with these stats and tips.
By Allison Young
WHY WE'RE SO FAT
The experts weigh in.
By Beth Maher
TOTALLY WICKED-RAD SPORTS TO TRY
Nine great activities to try that are fun and adventurous and will help get you in tip-top shape!
By Ron Johnson
ASK THE HEALTH EXPERT
Advice from 2's health expert, Tonya Rouse.
