Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Obesity is a serious and growing epidemic. In 2001, census data indicates that fully one-third of the NWT population is overweight and more than one-quarter of our population is obese. This makes the NWT one of the heaviest regions in Canada.

Obesity is costly. It is linked to increased health care costs and diminished worker productivity. The economic costs associated with obesity in Canada rose from $3.9 billion in 2000 to $7 billion in 2011, a staggering 80 percent increase in just over a decade.

Rising obesity rates are significantly correlated with increased rates of cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer. As well, being obese or overweight can result in low self-esteem and negative impacts on cognitive and social development, which can be particularly devastating for growing children.

It is estimated that childhood obesity has tripled in the last 30 years. Now one in four Canadian children are obese or overweight. This trend is so alarming that a leading researcher in the area of childhood obesity believes children growing up in North America today are at risk of being the first generation in modern memory that will have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.

The factors driving this epidemic are very complex. They include kids with too much screen time, not enough time outdoors, and poverty that makes healthy eating a challenge, addictions, stress and access to high-calorie foods full of sugar and salt.

However, we are all reminded obesity can be considerably improved by increasing our physical activity, by encouraging healthy eating habits and by building a smoke-free generation. Why then is this problem so prevalent and growing in the NWT if we are encouraging these behaviours? What are we missing?

We know we have unique challenges in our lives. Remote NWT communities face high food costs and lack of variety and availability of perishable foods, especially fruits and vegetables. As well, a traditional diet might be hard to access and, of course, darkness and extreme temperatures that can curtail traditional outdoor activities. But are these our only roadblock from being “fataholics”? No, Mr. Speaker.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted