1. WE ALL NEED TO GET MOVING
Sources
Dr. Mark Tremblay – Childhood Physical Activity: Important initiatives, insights and issues
Heart and Stroke Foundation: International Conference on Physical Activity and Obesity in Children
Caitlin Mason, Presenter

2. “for the ordinary Canadian child … physical fitness … seems to be a decreasing function of age from the time we put him behind a desk in our schools.”
Bailey, 1974

3. Some Statistics From 1979 to 2009, the obesity rate tripled from 3%-9%
28% of Ontario’s children are either overweight or obese-3 decades ago, it was 12%
Using BMI as an indicator, 60% of Canadian adults are overweight or obese
91% of children are not meeting the guidelines which recommend 90 minutes of moderate-vigorous activity ( steps)

4. A Cause for Concern...
63% of youngsters not active enough for optimal growth and development
A decline in activity with age and gender
Girls are less involved in intense physical activity
Physical Activity Monitor CFLRI, 1999

5. 40% of Canadian children have one major risk factor for CVD:
a sedentary lifestyle

6. “Unless effective interventions to reduce obesity are developed, the steady rise in life expectancy observed in the modern era may soon come to an end and the youth of today may live shorter lives than their parents.”
N Engl J Med 2005 Mar;352(11):

7. Some statistics
Even though we, as a society are eating less, we are getting fatter. There is a disconnect here. Why? We have poorer eating habits
Our physical activity is decreasing and our rates of diabetes and high blood pressure is increasing

8. A New Evolutionary Development ?
Our genes have not changed in the
last generation but our society has

11. “For the majority in our society, a sedentary lifestyle and increasing obesity constitute a major health risk…and will be the source of an almost incalculable burden on our health and social systems in the future.”

12. "Can Johnny come out and eat?"

13. The Data There are discrepancies in the reporting of physical activity
There are discrepancies in the reporting of obesity and being overweight
(written-phone interview-personal interview with weigh scale- actual body measurements)
The data can be taken and manipulated to “make it work”

14. Some Initiatives
Children’s Fitness Tax Credit (up to $ per child)
PARTICIPACTION is back
A government report entitled “Healthy Weight for Healthy Kids” has gone to the Standing Committee of Health

15. Annual Report on Public Schools-2009
Healthy Schools
By the time a student graduates from secondary school, they will have watched hours of television and participated in 500 hours of physical education
41% of elementary schools have a ft/pt physical education teacher (Only schools that are above the Ontario average size will have a ft physical education teacher
The overall number of minutes of physical education has dropped by 6%- Average number of minutes per week is 106.
When the regular classroom teacher teaches physical education, the number of classes decreases. This often occurs due to lack of expertise and a fear of the gymnasium
Regular physical education is essential for healthy growth and development. Benefits include lower anxiety/depression and maintaining a healthy body weight.

16. Annual Report on Public Schools-2009
Healthy Schools
We need to remember that physical education classes follow the proscribed curriculum in each grade. Physical activity is one piece of a complete, quality health and physical education program that all children need.
Daily Physical Activity (DPA) was designed to add 20 minutes of activity per day for students in elementary school. It was not meant to replace the regular physical education class. DPA still poses a challenge for teachers – WHY?
WE NEED TO INSPECT RATHER THAN EXPECT!!

17. Some Studies
1951 – France
The school day was divided into the following:
2/3 class time
1/3 physical education
No homework
This same study was replicated with slight permutations in Alberta and the findings were the same: THIS TYPE OF SCHOOL DAY MAXIMIZES LEARNING.
This does not mean that physical activity does not make the students smarter but it make them less agitated, less stressed and in a better condition to learn

18. Some Studies
The Amish have no physical education, no institutionalized sport and often have a lower SES. Yet, 1% are obese and 7% are overweight, compared to 25% of North American children
Many Scandinavian countries have lower rates as well. Often, the reason is ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION.

19. 91% of Canadian children have bicycles…
Active Transportation
91% of Canadian children have bicycles…
5% ride them to school !

20. Active commuting to school
Distance to school is inversely associated with physical activity.
JPAH 2006;3(Suppl 1):S129-S138

21. European Charter on Counteracting Obesity
November 2006: health ministers from 53 countries approved world’s first charter to fight obesity

22. European Charter on Counteracting Obesity
Encourage children to walk to school
Establish priority bicycle routes

23. European Charter on Counteracting Obesity
Improve availability & affordability of healthy foods
Limit marketing of fatty, sugary foods to children
Reduce fat, sugar & salt in manufactured products

24. European Charter on Counteracting Obesity
Promote cycling & walking by better urban design & transport policies

25. European Charter on Counteracting Obesity
“The vision is to shape societies where healthy lifestyles related to diet and physical activity are the norm where healthy choices are made easy for individuals.”

26. Urban Planning

27. The Fate of the Commuter
A commuter who spends 2 hours each day commuting…will spend the equivalent of 11, 40 - hour weeks sitting in their car each year!

28. The “engineering out” of physical activity

29. “The health consensus that dominated thinking about urban development for decades – namely that low-density suburban development is an inherently healthy way to build communities – is showing signs of unraveling.”

30. A Leadership Role for Teachers

31. Teachers have played a central role in providing Physical Activity for youth. What about you??

32. WHAT CAN WE DO?
Think about physical activity over the whole day rather than sport/exercise/recreation
Reduce auto dependency
Reduce financial dependency
Reduce reward dependency
Reduce nature deficit disorder
Reduce screen time

33. What Can We Do? One final thought:
“ Encourage people to add a touch of Amish and a dash of inconvenience to their lifestyle” (Dr. Mark Tremblay, 2007).