In 2008, Statistics Canada reported that 51 per cent of Canadians over the age of 12 were overweight or obese, and 17 per cent were obese.  I have seen a lot of references to obese parents having a greater risk of having overweight offspring, BUT it is not necessarily due to genetics. 

If we want to combat the health condition called “obesity” we need to look at what families are doing at home. What are parents providing as snacks/lunches to their children and how foods are used; as a source of nourishment or as a reward/treat/pacifier?  Are parents following the same food rules including eating breakfast, having a serving of dairy products at lunch and including at least 2 vegetables at dinner?   I am also hearing about more families using their interactive video games (like Wii and Playstations) to incorporate more physical activity along with family time.  That’s great.
Hmmm, maybe healthy eating and physical activity need to be family driven activities.

What if families used a fun approach to learning more about balanced meals and comparing their food intake vs., exercise output? The Nutribasic Wellness Portal would allow users to plan and track their meals along with their fitness routines. With the increasing use of technology by all ages, this may be an interesting and informative way to learn about healthy eating and fitness as a way to manage obesity or reduce the risk of developing various chronic illnesses that are associated with obesity.

Pamela Piotrowski, BASc, RD
Prime Care Family Health Team