Key findings from our
Champlain study
Physical Activity
Screen Time
Healthy Eating
Healthy Weight

What does this mean?

Our Goal?

Resources and References

Join us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Know More is about recognizing that our children may not be as physically active or eating as healthy as we might think… and that as parents, there are many things you can do to influence the health of your entire family.

Over the last 25 years, the number of overweight and obese children in Ontario has tripled. Children today could be the first generation with a shorter life expectancy than their parents.

In 2007, the Champlain Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Network (CCPN) conducted a study to understand how parents of children aged 4 to 12 perceive their children’s weight, physical activity, and eating behaviours.

We found that most parents in the Champlain Region think their children are at a healthy weight and are physically active on a regular basis. This is in stark contrast to the findings of national organizations such as Statistics Canada whose research clearly indicates that many children are not meeting the recommended guidelines for physical activity and healthy eating.

Reference: KB Adamo, S Papadakis, L Dojeiji, et al. Using path analysis to understand to understand parents’ perceptions of their children’s weight, physical activity and eating habits in the Champlain region of Ontario. Paediatr Child Health 2010;15 (9):e33-e41.

Key findings from our Champlain study:

Physical Activity

90% of parents in our region consider their child to be very active or active BUT....

...in reality, 87% of children and youth are not meeting the recommended 90 minutes of physical activity a day.

Screen Time

24% of parents in our region say their child spends 2 hours or more per day at the TV, computer or video games BUT...

...in reality, 90% of Canadian children spend more than the recommended maximum of 2 hours per day at the TV, computer or video games.

Healthy Eating

25% of parents in our region say their child consumes less than 3 servings of fruits and vegetables daily BUT...

… in reality, only one in eight children in Ontario is eating five or more daily servings of fruit and vegetables daily.

Healthy Weight

7% of parents in our region feel their child is overweight and 0% feel their child is obese BUT...

...in reality, among children aged 2 to 17 years, the current rate of overweight and obesity in Ontario is 28%.

back to top

What does this mean?

Our results suggest there is a gap between parents’ perceptions and reality when it comes to the health of their child’s weight, physical activity levels, and eating behaviours. We know parents understand the influential role they play in their child’s health, and we want to help parents take action and make the important but simple steps to better family health.

back to top

Our goal?

By making parents aware of this knowledge gap, our goal is to encourage families – regardless of how healthy they think their children are -- to engage in more fun physical activities and healthy eating opportunities as a family. You can take easy steps – here are some ideas!

• Make a list of physical activities you like to do as a family and pick one to do this week.
• Create the grocery list as a family. Everyone gets to pick 3 items.
• Have a dance-off with your children after dinner tonight.

Click here for more family-friendly tips… along with steps and tools to create your own healthy tip jar of food and activity ideas to do together!

back to top

Resources and References

• Active and Safe Routes to School (2008). Ontario Evaluation: Summary Report. Conducted by Informa, Commissioned by Green Communities Canada.
• Active Healthy Kids Canada. (2009). The Active Healthy Kids Canada Report on Physical Activity for Children and Youth.
• Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (2009). Tips for Being Active.
• Dietitians of Canada & Kraft Canada Inc. (2005). Speaking of Food and Healthy Living Report. Children and Healthy Weights: Parents’ Perspectives.
• Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. (2009). Report Card on Canadians' Health: What’s in store for Canada’s heart health?
• Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. (2009). Spark Together for Healthy Kids: A promise to our children.
• Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario (2009). Heart and Stroke Report on the Health of Ontario’s Kids..
• Ontario Society of Nutrition Professionals in Public Health School Nutrition Workgroup Steering Committee (2004). Call to Action: Creating a Healthy School Nutrition Environment.
• Public Health Agency of Canada. (2007). Canada's Physical Activity Guides for Children and Youth.
• YMCA (2009). Raising Healthy Kids Day by Day. Toronto: YMCA Canada.

back to top

KnowMore-DoMore Useful Links.

© 2010 CCPN | DISCLAIMER