A study by the Heart and Stroke Foundation has found that 60 per cent of residents from Weyburn and surrounding areas are either overweight or obese. This puts them among the top three area populations, and well above the provincial average of 53 per cent.

The grim statistics were released by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada in its annual report on Feb. 10. It warns that the increasing number of overweight and obese Canadians now poses one of the greatest threats ever, to public health in the country. The foundation compares the current problem to what the health system faced 30 years ago with tobacco use, when over half of Canadians smoked.

The Foundation's communications officer Rhea Ann said on Friday that the graph sloped from the East, where there are more fat people, to the West with less fat people. Saskatchewan is a huge spike at the centre of the slope with a population suffering from excessive weight.

"In Weyburn and its surrounding areas 18 per cent of the population is overweight while 42 per cent is obese. When we break it down along gender lines, 76 per cent of the men are overweight while 43 per cent of women have excess weight," said Ann.

She explained there is a clear link between obesity and cardiac problems, diabetes and other ailments, adding, "Excess weight cuts 10 years off a person's life". She attributed the problem to a changed lifestyle that involves very little physical activity. People spend long hours seated at the computer, watching TV or driving rather than walking short distances.

The Foundation said that the Saskatchewan in Motion Program is a step in the right direction. The program is aimed at increasing physical activity among kids and the general public so that they can lead fit and healthy lifestyles.

The Sun Country Health Region says that they take the Heart and Stroke Foundation report seriously. Medical Health Officer (MHO) Dr. David Butler-Jones and Vice-president of Primary Care Marga Cugnet said that the report's findings is not the best news for Weyburn.

Dr. Butler-Jones said that several plans for public health promotion were being developed and implemented to address the obesity and excess weight among the population of the region. He said however that people in the rural areas are generally more fit because of farm work, unlike the urban dwellers who spend a lot of time in front of a computer or TV.

"More strategies are being developed by the regions to be implemented jointly with other associations, such as diabetes, in order to deal with the problem as many illnesses are linked to obesity and excess weight," said the Medical Health Officer.

Cugnet said that the region is involved in the Saskatchewan in Motion program that is helping people do more physical activity and keep fit. They are also working with schools in their physical activity programs. The region has a nutrition network that works on advising people about food and diet. They also do public presentations on nutrition.

The Foundation report shows that young people are increasingly becoming obese. This is attributed to their consumption of junk food full in saturated fats and trans fats plus the lack of enough physical activity at home and in school. It added that 30 per cent of kids in North America visit fast food shops daily. These fats contribute to cholesterol that builds in the arteries, which can result in heart attacks and strokes.

"The food industry is also to blame as they market energy dense foods to kids. The ads for these kinds of foods should be cut down and those that are targeting children should be discontinued," said the Communications officer.

The report is the first step by the Foundation to publicize the unhealthy situation that the Canadian public is headed into. They will also be making recommendations to the government and other health authorities so that the excess weight and obesity is addressed effectively. It also asked the food industry to improve nutrition labeling on their products.

The Foundation advised those interested in information about leading healthy lifestyles to visit their website and make use of the Canadian Food Guide. They urge Canadians to eat more fruits and vegetables and change their lifestyles through more physical activity.