THUNDER BAY -- Life has definitely gotten easier over the years, says Mark Tremblay.
But the invention of remote controls, snow blowers and automatic garage-door openers has led to a lot less day-to-day activity, especially in Ontario’s youth.
Video games have also led to a more sedentary lifestyle, while the convenience of snack and processed foods has impacted the health of the nation.
Tremblay, director of healthy active living and obesity research at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, said the world isn’t about to take a step backward. But he does think people should spend a little time reflecting on a back-to-the-basics message.
“We still need to stay alive, we still need to eat well, sleep well and avoid toxins. Those fundamental rules of health will never change,” said Tremblay, the keynote speaker at Thursday’s Healthy Kids Thunder Bay Forum.
“It doesn’t mean it has to be anti-technology message.”
Moderation is the key. Rather than binge-watching your favourite program on Netflix, watch an episode or two at a time.
Eat a handful of chips, not the entire bag. And limit video-game playing to half an hour, and then go do something active, Tremblay said.
“We’ve lost that moderation effect,” he said.
While Canada is not unique among northern countries, its youth lags behind Scandinavian nations when it comes to physical activity levels.
Tremblay’s not sure why.
“Many of our policies have accommodated it. The temperature in which kids are allowed to go out in has risen and risen and risen. The distance that kids are expected to walk to school has declined. The distance we would expect kids to go buy milk at the corner store has reduced,” Tremblay said.
“The world in which our kids live has shrunk over time.”
Janet DeMille, the associate medical officer of health at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, said the choices people make depend on the choices they have.
It’s up to the community to lend a helping hand.
Northern Ontario, in particular, needs plenty of help. Obesity rates are higher and chronic disease levels, including diabetes and cardiovascular ailments, are also higher.
“Healthy eating can really help prevent some of those and it isn’t happening,” she said.
But what can be done?
The forum, which included representatives of daycares and children’s organizations around the city, is a start, DeMille said.
“We do know that healthy behaviours start in childhood. They start with children and families and their communities. And we do know that our kids aren’t necessarily eating very well, are not necessarily following the healthy eating guides.”
DeMille asks parents and caretakers to put more thought into their daily menus.
“What we want to accomplish today is building up the work that the province is doing, building up work that ourselves at the health unit and our partners have already been doing, to support healthy, nutrition, physical activity and mental health in our children.”
