Obesity rates at historic levels in Canada

Obesity rates are still climbing in Canada, particularly in the Maritimes and territories, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of British Columbia mapped self-reportedobesity rates for adults across Canada since 1998.

The Maritimes and thethree territories had the highest obesity rates from 2000 to 2011more than 30 per cent of the population in these regions is estimated to be obese, Prof. Carolyn Gotay ofUBC's School of Population and Public Health and her co-authors said in today's issue of the Canadian Journal of Public Health.

British Columbia had the lowest overall rates. In B.C.,obesityincreased from less than 20 per cent to almost 25 per cent.

In Quebec,ratesremained below 24 per cent.

Gotay said the colour-coded maps are meant to personalizethe data in a way that transcends language differences.

Obesity rates could be levelling off, the researchers said. For the past four years, the percentage of Canadians estimated to be obese varied from24.2 per cent to 25.3 per cent compared with steeper climbs previously.

"The impact of obesity on chronic disease incidence takes time to emerge, and even if rates level off, they are historic highs," the researchers concluded.

The study did not include data on aboriginals living on reserves or Canadians in remote areas.