Statistics

As of 2019 it is estimated that over 150 million children in the world are obese and that this will increase to 206 million by 2025. ¹ Without intervention, overweight infants and young children will likely continue to be overweight during childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Obesity in childhood is associated with a wide range of serious health complications such as fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes.  Being overweight or obese in adulthood increases the risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, 13 different cancers, liver disease, hypertension and stroke.

Canada, like many nations, is in the midst of an epidemic of overweight and obesity. There has been a dramatic increase in unhealthy weights in Canada. Childhood overweight and obesity has been rising steadily in Canada in recent decades.  Between 1978/79 and 2004, the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity among those aged two to 17 years increased from 23 per cent to 34 per cent.²  Obesity rates doubled from 6% to 12 %.  Rates of unhealthy weights have since stabilized with the incidence of childhood obesity holding at 12% according to 2015 data[i].

Most adolescents do not outgrow this problem and in fact, many continue to gain excess weight.⁵ If current trends continue, by 2040, up to 70% of adults aged 40 years will be either overweight or obese.⁶

Currently, over 60% of adult Canadians are either overweight or obese.³  The maritime provinces have the highest rate of obesity and the lowest rate is found in  British Columbia. Historically, cities in  Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia were significantly higher in overweight/obesity population than the national average for adults.⁴

 Adults who have unhealthy weights are at increased risk of heart disease,⁷ cancer,⁸ strokes and type 2 diabetes.⁹ In 2011 it was estimated that the economic burden of obesity to Canadians totaled between 4 and 7 billion dollars per year..¹⁰ In addition to the monetary cost, there is a human cost as affected adults may die up to 3 to 7 years earlier than counterparts with a healthy weight.¹¹

The resulting toll in dollars cost and lives lost is a call for action. Obesity is difficult to reverse and public health measures must include effective prevention beginning in childhood as well as treatment.

Last updated October, 2019.

1. Atlas of Childhood Obesity. October 2019. World Obesity Federation. http://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wof-files/11996_Childhood_Obesity_Atlas_Report_ART_V2.pdf
2. Public Health Agency of Canada. Curbing Childhood Obesity; A Federal, Provincial and Territorial Framework for Action to Promote Healthy Weights, 2012.
3. Obesity in Canadian Adults,  2016 and 2017. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-627-m/11-627-m2018033-eng.
4. Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey, 2009, 2010.
5. Singh AS, Mulder C, Twisk JWR. (2008) Tracking of childhood overweight into adulthood: a systematic review of the literature. Obesity Reviews 9. 474 – 488.
6. Le Petit C, Berthelot JM. Obesity: A Growing Issue. Statistics Canada catalogue no 82-618-MWE2005003
7. Zalesin K, Franklin BA, Miller WM, Petersen ED. Impact of Obesity on Cardiovascular Disease Endocrinology Metabolism Clinics North America – 01-SEP-2008;37(3): 663 – 84
8. Danaei G, et al. (2005) Causes of Cancer in the world: comparative risk assessment of nine behavioural and environmental risk factors. Lancet,: 366, 1786 – 1793
9. Smith SC. Multiple Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Mellitus. (2007) American Journal of Medicine., Vol 120 (3A)
10. Obesity in Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/healthy-living/obesity-canada/health-economic-implications.htm
11. Peeters A, et al. (2003) Obesity in adulthood and its consequences for life expectancy: A life table analysis. Annals of Internal Medicine, 138, 24 – 32

[i] Statistics Canada.  Table  13-10-0795-01   Measured children and youth body mass index (BMI) (World Health Organization classification), by age group and sex, Canada and provinces, Canadian Community Health Survey – Nutrition (Accessed January 28, 2019)