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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-09-05, Page 2Page 2 The Huron Expositor • September 5, 2007 News- Obesity linked to rural poverty, says Huron MOH Anecdotal evidence shows children come first when food insecurity is the issue Aaron J a e k l i n While local statistics can't confirm the relevance of an American study that compares obesity in rural and urban children, local experts can link obesity to poverty and can say that rural Canada tends to be more obese that the cities. The American study is to be pub- lished later this month in the jour- nal Obesity Research by Unviersity of Illinois researchers. It suggests that rural children are 25 per cent more likely to be obese than urban kids. According to Dr, Beth Henning, medical officer of health for Huron County, they don't have the data to say whether those findings hold true for Huron County. "I can't tell you that for sure," she says. "We don't have a large enough sample of youths to give us that information." She says there are a higher pro- portion of Huron County adults con- sidered overweight than in urban Ontario "and that would be consis- tent with other rural settings." She said that 22.5 per cent of Huron County residents are consid- ered overweight compared to. 15 per cent for the province as a whole. "I can't verify that for youths," she says. "What I can tell you is the relationship between obesity and its causes are very complex, but one of its underlying components is often poverty" She says the counterintuitive find- ing - that poverty both goes hand- inahandwith obesity and even seems to play a role in being over- weight - isn't just about the access to healthy food, but the simple abili- ty to afford food. "The other access issue would be physical activity opportunities," she says. "You might think about those being different in a rural versus an urban situation." She stresses the causes of obesity are very complex, but that living in a low-income household can be a major contributor. Henning says there's something of a trade-off to rural versus urban life, citing a report by the Public Health Agency of Canada called How Healthy Are Rural Canadians? She says the report says in rural areas there are "higher proportions of people with low-income, but they add people living rurally have a Has Adoption Touched Your Life? visit www.ontario.ca/adoptioninfo On September 17, 2007 adoption information laws in Ontario are changing. If you were involved in an adoption that is registered in Ontario, you should know that access to identifying information for adopted adults and birth parents is changing. Changes to adoption information laws in Ontario will allow most adopted adults and birth parents to receive identifying information from original birth registrations and adoption orders. Since January 31, 2007, birth parents and adopted adults have been able to register a no -contact notice and apply for an order prohibiting the disclosure of identifying information in order to prevent harm. Non -identifying information will continue to be disclosed to adopted adults and birth relatives upon request. To learn more about these changes and how they might affect you or someone you know, please visit www.ontario.ca/adoptioninfo or call ServiceOntario at 1-800-461-2156. This ad is paid for by the Government of Ontario. f)">Ontario stronger sense of community." The report also says there are higher rates of obesity in rural Canada with influences - like food insecurity and lower physical activi- ty - that often go back to living in poverty. She says that food insecurity means there's not enough food for all family members. Food insecurity influences how and when people eat in ways that Dr. Henning says "pre- dispose them to being overweight." "In some of our focus groups in Huron County - and this isn't statis- tical information, it's anecdotal - they have said to us the children come first, so if there isn't enough food, the children will get fed." She says that creates great hard- ship and stress for the family. "They also talk about the frustra- tions of not being able to access physical activity opportunities for their familes because they're too expensive," says Dr. Henning. She gives hockey as an example which has the associated trans- portation, equipment and league membership costs. CHAPTER INFORMATION MEETING Wed., September 12, 2007 7:00 p.m. GODERICH POWER CENTRE 80023 J3luewater Highway FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: Quinn Ross 519-525-3570 There are no membership fees to join or to continue your membership. www.cmcnational.ca Linda Reaume t)c ign ('omcultant Rob Smyth Dc,ign (nnwltent Wast Coast k i t c h e n s... And Much More • Kitchens • CustomVanities • Entertainment Units • Home Offices PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATIONS CusmM.arls Cotntnrs Visit Our Showroom! 50 West St. Goderich 519-440-0352.1-866-440-0352 Goderich & District Chamher of Commerce Rucinecx of the Year Award 2106 Email: weslcoastkithreableh.on.ca