EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(MARKET WIRE)--Aug 27, 2008 -- With a resolution adopted at its 141st annual meeting last week, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has formally encouraged provincial medical associations to address the growing obesity epidemic - specifically, by partnering with the Canadian Obesity Network (CON).

"Obesity is the new Canadian epidemic," Dr. Richard Tytus, McMaster University associate professor and CON member, told CMA delegates. "Hypertension may be the silent killer, but obesity is the ignored disease. The time to address it is now."

Dr. Tytus first introduced the resolution at a July meeting of Ontario delegates. It then became the second of 14 resolutions adopted under the Health Promotion and Prevention category at the CMA's annual meeting last week, it reads:

'The Canadian Medical Association encourages provincial/territorial medical associations to work in conjunction with the Canadian Obesity Network to help develop chronic care models for obesity prevention and management.'

"This is a very important development - it signals recognition by Canada's medical community of the importance of tackling the issue of obesity in Canada," says Irving Gold, chairman of CON's board of directors. "The Canadian Obesity Network and its members look forward to working with Canada's medical community to address the devastating consequences of this disease, and we applaud the wisdom of the CMA general council."

It is estimated that 59% of Canadian adults and 26% of children and adolescents are overweight, while one in 5 adults are obese, as are 10% of boys and 9% of girls. Overweight individuals are at increased risk for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, stroke, osteoarthritis and cancer. One in 10 premature deaths among Canadian adults aged 20-64 years is directly attributable to overweight and obesity.

"Obesity is now recognized as a chronic disease that needs to be dealt with through a coordinated, national approach," says Dr. Arya M. Sharma, scientific director for CON. "Canadian research conducted in 2007 found that only 14% of physicians were addressing the problem of obesity in their practices - so clearly we as health providers need to do a better job treating our overweight and obese patients.

"The Canadian Obesity Network is ideally situated to help the medical community by providing tools and learning opportunities based on the latest available scientific evidence that physicians need to effectively prevent and treat obesity. The CMA's resolution is a call to action to address this important issue."

The Canadian Obesity Network (CON) links obesity researchers with practitioners, policymakers, and the private sector to foster effective solutions to prevent, control and treat obesity. CON boasts more than 3,000 professional members across Canada. www.obesitynetwork.ca.

     Contacts:
     For more information, or to schedule interviews:
     Canadian Obesity Network
     Brad Hussey, Communications Officer
     (289) 238-9148 (local to Hamilton, ON)
     Email: hussey@obesitynetwork.ca
     Website: http://www.obesitynetwork.ca