Posted at 12:00 a.m.
Quebec is experiencing a sharp rise in its obesity rate, with 27.6% of Quebec adults now in this category. Despite this increase, the province remains, along with British Columbia, one of the least affected in Canada.
The results for 2021 are critical for the whole country: more than 29% of Canadians are obese, according to Statistics Canada, which represents an increase of nearly 3 points since 2015. The increase is particularly high in Quebec, where the obesity increased by 3.7 points during this period.
Although the increase is strong in Quebec, the problem of obesity remains more acute elsewhere in the country. In addition to British Columbia, which has the lowest rate in Canada, at 24.6%, the rates are higher in the rest of Canada, particularly in the Atlantic, where, for example, there are 42.2% obese. in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
A situation aggravated by the pandemic
“The pandemic has definitely not helped in terms of physical inactivity, screen time. These factors, plus the restrictive measures regarding access to sports activities, have had a definite impact on energy expenditure,” observes Julie Riopel-Meunier, scientific advisor at the Population Health Information and Studies Office.
The more restrictive measures imposed by the Quebec government in response to the pandemic may therefore explain the sharp increase observed in the province.
“If the measures have been more restrictive in Quebec, that can have an impact,” explains Julie Riopel-Meunier.
COVID-19 has accelerated a phenomenon already underway, said Ahmed Jérôme Romain, professor at the School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Sciences at the University of Montreal. “Obesity has been on the rise for many years in Canada. COVID-19 is only an accelerator for all the phenomena that have been at play for years, ”he says.
Demography: an important factor
Among these phenomena, that of demography plays a key role, according to Julie Riopel-Meunier. In particular, it would explain the lower rate of obesity in Quebec. “We are a relatively populated province with several major centres. Comparatively, Saskatchewan is a province with a much more rural life, which implies less good accessibility to healthy food, a barrier to the use of active transportation, as well as less good access to health care. she points out.
If we can believe the cities that are more conducive to the consumption of fatty foods, fast food, the logic is different. Among the factors limiting the spread of obesity, that of accessibility to varied food and unmodified products is decisive.
“It’s the option that makes the difference. If you live further away, it’s more difficult to have access to fresh produce,” explains Julie Riopel-Meunier.
Same conclusion on the side of Ahmed Jérôme Romain. “Cities provide access to environments that support physical activity and food choice,” he confirms. If we look at how obesity is distributed in Quebec, we realize that in rural areas, obesity is at least 3 or 4 points higher than in urban centres,” adds the specialist.
The solution goes through the different levels of government
To counter this perpetual increase, provincial and federal awareness and action policies continue to emerge. In Quebec, the fight focuses in particular on sugary drinks with the Action Plan to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks and promote water.
We tend to believe that it is something that is played out only on the side of the individual and his ability to regulate himself, but this is not true. The individual moves in the environment given to him.
Ahmed Jérôme Romain, professor at the University of Montreal
Below the provincial and federal levels, the municipal level allows for the creation of a link with the community. “The more governments involved, the more the authorities work with the community, the better it works. There are results when we integrate everyone and when we also integrate the industry,” explains Julie Riopel-Meunier.
The industry would indeed be decisive. “The most important thing is to include the industry in these changes, by taxing sugary drinks, for example”, underlines the scientific adviser. However, policies to fight against obesity would still ignore this environment too much. “Everything leads us to believe that the intervention instruments implemented to counter the phenomenon of obesity in Quebec are based on the financing [budget et fiscalité], persuasion and awareness. These instruments do not a priori include enough coercive measures or measures acting on product prices,” adds Julie Riopel-Meunier.
Questioned on this subject, the Ministry of Health and Social Services nevertheless renewed its commitment to the fight against obesity by describing it as a priority public health problem. The creation of environments conducive to healthy lifestyle habits and a healthy body image would be at the center of its projects.