HESA Committee Related Document

House of Commons
Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0A6

39th Parliament, 1st Session

Childhood Obesity

Primary Purpose

On June 15, 2006, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health initiated a study on childhood obesity in Canada, with an emphasis on the federal responsibility for First Nations and Inuit children. The study aims to:

• obtain information about trends in childhood obesity (including data on eating habits, levels of physical activity and screen time);
• understand the wide range of determinants that influence childhood overweight and obesity rates (including social, economic, geographic, cultural, genetic and environmental factors); and
• identify existing and potential roles for the federal government in addressing this issue.

Suggested Approach and Particular Themes

The Committee is concerned about the many adverse health outcomes that result from childhood obesity, such as diabetes and cardiac problems. It is interested in learning about concrete actions that the federal government can take to prevent as well as to respond to the issue of overweight and obese children.

While the Committee wants to gain insight into the roles of food and of physical activity in contributing to or in reducing childhood obesity, it is seeking broad information on various health determinants that interact in complex ways to influence childhood obesity. For this reason, the Committee will be holding hearings organized as much as possible to address specific themes. Accordingly, the Committee will invite individuals and organizations to share their views on effective actions that the federal government can take to deal with childhood obesity.