NO TIME TO WAIT The report of Ontario’s Healthy Kids Panel

Presented by Dr. Susan Surry

Associate Medical Officer of Health

Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit

26 September 2013

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HEALTHY KIDS PANEL Target 20% ↓ in 5 Years

• Rationale

• Physical and mental health impacts

• Health care and societal costs

• A problem 30 years in the making

• Urgency to act now

• A bold but practical strategy

• Thought leader engagement

• Parent and youth consultation

• Written submissions and stakeholder meetings

• Review of evidence

• Panel deliverables to Minister

• Identify specific factors affecting childhood obesity (CO) rates

• Identify comprehensive, innovative, multisectoral interventions for sustainable CO reduction:

• evidence informed

• public accountability

• cost effective

• viability for implementation

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UNDERSTANDING CAUSES & TRENDS

1. Factors affecting a healthy start • Genes• Physiology• Sleep• Mental health

2. Factors affecting the food environment and food choices

• Time pressures• Cost• Accessibility• Knowledge• Marketing

3. Factors affecting communities• Time pressures• Change in kids’ activities• Cost• Perceptions about safety• Physical environments• Social disparities

Taking a life course perspective Preconception and the prenatal

period The first six months of life The early years The transition to child care or school Entering adolescence Late teens

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STRATEGY IN BRIEF

Three-Part Strategy:« What to do » practical 3-step package

1. Start all kids on the path to health

2. Change food environments

3. Create healthy communities

ABCs of Successful Action« How to » advice on implementation

A. Make child health everyone’s priority

B. Invest in child health

C. Use evidence, monitor progress, ensure accountability

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PART 1: START ALL KIDS ON THE PATH TO HEALTH

1. Education of women of child-bearing age

2. Standard pre-pregnancy health check for women planning a pregnancy

3. Standardized prenatal education curriculum

4. Breastfeeding for at least first 6 months

5. Leverage well-baby and childhood immunization visits to promote healthy weights and enhance surveillance & early intervention

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PART 2: CHANGE FOOD ENVIRONMENTS

1. Ban marketing of calorie- nutrient foods, beverages and snacks to children under 12

2. Ban point of sale promotions and displays of calorie- nutrient foods and beverages in retail settings

3. Require all restaurants (including retail groceries) to list calories on menus

4. Encourage food retailers to adopt transparent, standard nutrition ratings

5. Support use of Canada’s Food Guide and nutrition facts panel

6. Provide incentives to support community-based food distribution programs

7. Provide incentives for food retailers to develop stores in food deserts

8. Establish universal school nutrition program (elementary and secondary)

9. Establish universal school nutrition program for First Nations communities

10. Develop a single standard food and beverage guideline (where children play and learn)

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PART 3: CREATE HEALTHY COMMUNITIES

1. Develop a comprehensive social marketing program

2. Join EPODE – launch in at least 10 communities

3. Make schools hubs for child health and community engagement

4. Create healthy environments for preschool children

5. Develop the knowledge and skills of key professionals to support parents

6. Speed implementation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy

7. Continue to implement the Mental Health and Addictions Strategy

8. Ensure families have timely access to specialized obesity programs

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FROM STRATEGY TO ACTION

A. Make child health everyone’s priority• Cross ministry cabinet committee chaired by Premier• Engage partners outside government/champions• Empower parents, caregivers and youth• Leverage and build on what we already have

B. Invest in child health• Maintain current fundings levels• Leverage and repurpose government funding• Commit at least $80m/y in new funding• Establish a public-private philanthropic trust fund - innovation

C. Use evidence, monitor progress, ensure accountability• Develop a surveillance system (weights, risk factors, protective factors)• Support research on causes and interventions• Monitor the implementation and impact of strategy• Report annually to the public on progress

“TO DO LESS WILL NOT BE ENOUGH”

In year one, Ontario should meet at least the following milestones:

Establish cross-ministry committee and develop a plan Introduce preconception health visit concept Ban advertising to children under 12, and point-of-sale displays of

sugar-sweetened beverages Expand some of the existing healthy eating and physical activity

programs that have been shown to be effective Involve at least ten communities in EPODE Establish indicators and a reporting strategy

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“TO DO LESS WILL NOT BE ENOUGH”

In year one, Ontario should meet at least the following milestones:

Establish cross-ministry committee and develop a plan Introduce preconception health visit concept Ban advertising to children under 12, and point-of-sale displays of

sugar-sweetened beverages Expand some of the existing healthy eating and physical activity

programs that have been shown to be effective Involve at least ten communities in EPODE Establish indicators and a reporting strategy

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THERE IS NO TIME TO DELAY

“The need is grave and compelling.

If nothing changes, one in three children in Ontario will be overweight or obese. More children will develop weight

issues that will lead to serious health problems in their 30s and 40s, and affect their quality of life.

The cost of obesity will overwhelm our health care system.”

No Time to Wait: The Healthy Kids Strategy, p.53