Obesity is considered a public health issue by several authorities

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Since the identification of obesity as a priority public health issue by the World Health Organization (WHO), several interventions aimed at preventing or treating it have been deployed.

Regardless of weight, the prevalence of risk factors for preventable chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers remains high.

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Prevalence

The body mass index (BMI) is the most used indicator to estimate the prevalence of obesity in the population².Because it does not take into account body composition (muscle mass, bone structure and fat distribution) and growth and lifestyle habits, it should not be used to assess a person's health.

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In Québec

The prevalence of obesity has increased over the past thirty years. In 2021, more than 60% of the Quebec population was considered overweight or obese according to their body mass index³ :

65 % of adults were overweight or obese (including 37% overweight and 28% obese);

20 % of young people jeunes (aged 12 to 17) were overweight or obese.

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In Canada

AIn the country, more than 6 in 10 adults are overweight or obese according to their body mass index⁴ :

In 2018, 63% of Canadian adults were overweight or obese (including 36% overweight and 27% obese)⁴;
In 2017, 30% of young people aged 2 to 17 were overweight or obese⁵.

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Health impacts

Although no causal link has been established, obesity is associated with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, several types of cancers, certain respiratory problems, musculoskeletal disorders, hepatic steatosis, gallbladder disorders and chronic kidney diseases^6-11 .

In children, obesity is associated with the early onset of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and hypertension¹².

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Weight and health

A range of factors influence health, such as lifestyle habits, genetics, age and socioeconomic level. A person's health or lifestyle habits are therefore not limited to their weight. Additionally, fatphobia acts as an obstacle to health.

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Healthier living environments

The environments in which we live influence our lifestyle habits. Thus, building healthier living environments helps promote health.

« The health and well-being of a population depend on several determinants of the physical environment. Policies, measures related to land use planning and the characteristics of built and developed environments are among these determinants. »

Institut national de santé publique du Québec¹³

To learn more about promising solutions to make the healthy choice the easy choice, visit our plateform.

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Obesity is a complex issue, influenced by a multitude of factors.
Today, we know that weight, as the only indicator, cannot measure an individual's health.

A fat person can be healthy, just like a thin person can be unhealthy.

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References

Agence de la santé publique du Canada. (2017). Quel est l'état de santé des Canadiens? Analyse des tendances relatives à la santé des Canadiens du point de vue des modes de vie sains et des maladies chroniques. Repéré au https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante-publique/services/publications/vie-saine/quel-est-l-etat-sante-des-canadiens.html
Organisation mondiale de la Santé. (2018). Obésité et surpoids. Repéré au http://www.who.int/fr/news-room/factsheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight
Statistique Canada. Caractéristiques de la santé, estimations annuelles. Repéré au https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/fr/cv.action?pid=1310009601
Statistique Canada (2019). Embonpoint et obésité chez les adultes, 2018. Repéré au https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-625-x/2019001/article/00005-fra.htm
Santé Canada. (2018). Lutter contre l’obésité au Canada – Taux d’obésité et d’excès de poids juvénile au Canada. Repéré au https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante-publique/services/publications/vie-saine/taux-obesite-exces-poids-juvenile-canadiens.html
Agence de la santé publique du Canada (2011). Obésité au Canada : Conséquences sur la santé et l’économie. Repéré au http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hp-ps/hl-mvs/oic-oac/econo-fra.php
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (s.d.). Obesity consequences – Health risks: Weight problems take a hefty toll on body and mind. Repéré au https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-consequences/health-effects/
National Institutes of Health (2012). What Are the Health Risks of Overweight and Obesity? Repéré au
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/obe/risks
Poulain M., et al. (2006). The effect of obesity on chronic respiratory diseases: pathophysiology and therapeutic strategies. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 174(9), 1293-1299.
Lash, M.M., Armstrong, A. (2009). Impact of obesity on women's health. Fertility and Sterility, 91(5), 1712-1716.
Brewer, C. J., & Balen, A. H. (2010). The adverse effects of obesity on conception and implantation. Reproduction, 140(3), 347-364
Agence de la santé publique du Canada (2011). Obésité au Canada : Conséquences sur la santé et l’économie. Repéré au http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hp-ps/hl-mvs/oic-oac/econo-fra.php
Institut national de santé publique du Québec. (2016). L'obésité et l'embonpoint, quels sont les impacts au Québec. Repéré au https://www.inspq.qc.ca/pdf/publications/2126_obesite_embonpoint_impacts_economiques.pdf
Fondation des maladies du coeur et de l'AVC. (2021). Mémoire présenté à la Commission des finances publiques du Québec. Repéré au : https://consultations.finances.gouv.qc.ca/Consultprebudg/2021-2022/memoires/M%C3%A9moire_Fondation%20des%20maladies%20du%20coeur%20et%20AVC_final.pdf