Cancer Care Ontario Applauds Action to Tackle Childhood Obesity

Panel Mandate Supports Taking Action to Prevent Chronic Disease: Recommendations for a Healthier Ontario

TORONTO, May 22, 2012 /CNW/ - Cancer Care Ontario welcomes the announcement by the Government of Ontario to establish a Healthy Kids Panel. Developed to tackle childhood obesity, the panel is an important step in slowing the burden of chronic disease in Ontario.

Seventy-nine per cent of deaths in Ontario are attributed to chronic disease. The main risk factors associated with chronic disease are tobacco use, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and unhealthy eating.  Almost 50 per cent of Ontarians are physically inactive, and over half of Ontarians do not eat healthily.

Cancer Care Ontario and Public Health Ontario recently released Taking Action to Prevent Chronic Disease: Recommendations for a Healthier Ontario. The report contains a series of evidence-based recommendations for change at the provincial level to create healthier communities for children to live, play and grow.

The report recommendations include:

• Mandatory physical education credits for grades 9-12
• Support for active transportation
• Compulsory food skills curriculum in school

"We are pleased with the announcement of the Healthy Kids Panel. We need to create communities that support children and their families to make healthy choices," says Michael Sherar, President and CEO, Cancer Care Ontario. "I believe this panel will play an important role in reducing the burden of chronic disease by supporting Ontario children to make healthy choices from an early age so that they lead healthy, productive lives."

Cancer Care Ontario - an Ontario government agency - drives quality and continuous improvement in disease prevention and screening, the delivery of care and the patient experience, for cancer, chronic kidney disease and access to care for key health services. Known for its innovation and results-driven approaches, CCO leads multi-year system planning, contracts for services with hospitals and providers, develops and deploys information systems, establishes guidelines and standards and tracks performance targets to ensure system-wide improvements in cancer, chronic kidney disease and access to care.

Media contacts: 
Marko Perovic, Senior Public Affairs Advisor
Cancer Care Ontario
Phone: [phone]
Email: [email protected]