Board of Health approves a new healthy eating and active living strategy On May 7, 2012 the Ottawa Board of Health approved a three-year Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) strategy in order to help residents make healthier choices about food and physical activity. The strategy is supported by community and municipal partners, and focuses on three determinants of healthy weights: poor nutrition, inactivity and the societal pre-occupation with weight.“We are aware that our residents are not eating enough vegetables and fruit, that they are not getting enough exercise and that the settings Ottawa residents live, learn, work and play in do not consistently support Healthy Choices and behaviours,” said Councillor Diane Holmes, Chair of the Board of Health. “The implementation of the HEAL strategy will support residents to eat healthy, be active and maintain a healthy body image.”[[MORE]]Increasing access to nutritious food, nutrition skills, active transportation and physical activity will remain strategic priorities of Ottawa Public Health (OPH) and the Board of Health.In the short-term, OPH will focus on:
- Reducing consumption of foods that lack nutritional value and are high in calories and sodium, and increasing access to healthier foods;
- Increasing physical activity and active transportation; and
- Dispelling myths and biases around obesity by changing social and physical environments.
OPH is working with a number of partners in order to achieve the changes outlined in the strategy. “In order to reduce the obesity trend, it is key that organizations and policy-makers work together to make changes so that people have greater access to healthy affordable foods and physical activity,” said Christina Marchant from Centretown Community Health Centre, host of the Ottawa Good Food Box program.“One key way to improve the food environment is for restaurants to disclose calorie and sodium information on menus,” said Bill Jeffery, LLB, from Centre for Science in the Public Interest. “This will help people make healthier choices and spur restaurants to make their food more nutritious. We look forward to working with OPH on this valuable initiative.”For more information on the HEAL strategy or the Healthy Eating, Active Living and Healthy Weights in Ottawa, 2012 report, visit ottawa.ca/health or call OPH Information at 613-580-6744 (TTY: 613-580-9656). You can also connect with OPH on Facebook and Twitter (@ottawahealth) for the latest public health information.Resources:
Ottawa Public Health 2011 Annual Report
Healthy Eating, Active Living and Healthy Weights, 2012
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