Everywhere you look it seems fast food joints are all over the place. They seem to make up a large percentage of our landscape – almost as prevalent as the rocky mountains in Alberta.

Fast food restaurants, eating too much junk food and not exercising enough are major factors why adult and childhood obesity are becoming Canada’s next health epidemic.

The word “epidemic” was used by federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, during a Senate committee studying the country’s health system.

A joint report by the Public Health Agency of Canada and Canadian Institute for Health Information in June 2011, suggested that approximately one in four Canadian adults are obese. Between 1981 and 2007/2009, obesity rates doubled. Obesity rates among children are also rising at staggering rates.

The economic impacts are just as heavy. In 2008, the estimated cost was $4.6 billion, up significantly from $3.9 billion in 2000. Click here to read report.

It’s difficult to understand that something for the most part is avoidable, could be such widespread. It makes you wonder how things got this way and if it’s too late to turn back.

Healthcare is certainly on everybody’s mind. In fact, all the provincial and territorial health ministers are gathered in Halifax to discuss priorities for the next national health accord, which expires in 2014. Click here to read article.

And obesity is on their radar. "It's not the next epidemic, it's the present epidemic," Quebec Health Minister Yves Bolduc told media.

As our population ages and our bellies get bigger, aggressive reforms are needed, don’t you think?

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