As well as placing fourth overall for obesity (at 4.1 per cent), Canadian youth ranked fifth for "overweight" (19.3 per cent). The three countries with the highest prevalence of obesity were Malta (7.9 per cent), the United States (6.8 per cent), and England (5.1 per cent). The highest prevalence of overweight youth was found in Malta (25.4 per cent), the U.S. (25.1 per cent), and Wales (21.1 per cent).

Noting that no Asian or African countries were included, the study says it is very disturbing that in 77 per cent of the countries examined, at least 10 per cent of youth were overweight, and in 20 per cent of the countries, at least 3 per cent were obese.

"The fact that similar associations were found across countries and cultures demonstrates the robustness of these findings," says Dr. Janssen. "Physical activity interventions should be a fundamental component of health campaigns aimed at reducing the global obesity epidemic."

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Contact: Nancy Dorrane
dorrance@post.queensu.ca
613-533-2869
Queen's University
21-Apr-2005