Workplace Wellness in the North Zone
About a year ago, I visited Grand Prairie to learn more about obesity management in the Alberta Health Services North Zone. That visit was particularly timely, as not soon after, a Vital Signs report on the health of communities across Canada identified Grand Prairie as having the highest obesity rates of all of the 22 communities included in that report. During that visit, I recall mentioning in passing that it would be great if employee wellness programs could be implemented that would focus on healthy behaviours (not weight loss). Yesterday, I was back in the North Zone and was delighted to learn more about several examples of how these ‘thoughts’ had actually been implemented in several businesses in Grand Prairie and were beginning to show results. Thus, for example, Kari Speaker Smith, a partner with Fletcher Mudryk and Co., Chartered Accountants, spoke about their success at changing the snacking culture, reducing sedentariness and increasing the fun factor (yes, Accountants!), at the work place. This pilot project included visits from AHS public health nurses and other activities that have already shown significant benefits both in health behaviours, team building and morale. In my presentation, I complimented the various employers on their initiatives and pointed out that bringing not just ‘wellness’ activities but also thinking about expanding such activities to ‘disease management’ may actually be something that may need to be considered given the predicted increase in obesity related chronic health problems in the workforce. Later in the day, I also gave presentations to primary care physicians and other health care professionals across all of Northern Alberta on the 5As of Obesity Management and how the use of these tools can simplify obesity management in the North Zone. I certainly had a full and informative day and very much look forward to future visits. AMS Edmonton, Alberta
Northern Health Leads The Way For Promotion of Men’s Health?
Not too long ago, I applauded British Columbia’s Northern Health authority for the release of their forward-thinking health promotion policy paper on overweight and obesity. Now, just in time for Movember, Northern Health has released another interesting document, “MANual: A Men’s Health Survival Guide“, which focusses on health promotion in men. The guide addresses a wide range of topics from healthy eating (at camp) and weights to risk-taking behaviour. smoking, drugs, alcohol and sexuality. However, it also provides helpful advice regarding the risks for diabetes and heart disease as well as prostate, lung and colorectal cancer. I assume that similar documents exist in other jurisdictions, however, I though that this one is particularly well laid out and informative. Certainly an interesting and quick read for any man (and woman, who care about her man). AMS Edmonton, Alberta
Canada’s Thinnest Province Loves its Desserts
One of the little appreciated facts, is that Quebec happens to have the lowest combined rates of overweight and obesity (56%) of any Canadian province. It now turns out that (as one may have suspected), Quebec is also the one province in Canada that truly maintains a true and distinct eating Culture (that is culture with a capital “C”). Thus, according to the 15th edition of Eating Patterns in Canada (EPIC), a recent survey from the market research group NPD, Quebecers report eating dessert with supper about 112 times a year compared to about 89 times in Atlantic Canada, 57 in Ontario and 55 on the west coast. This is also a province that particularly values home-cooked lunch and dinners. Thus, 6 out of 10 lunches and 6.5 out of 10 dinners in Quebec households are apparently made from scratch. According to the NPD news release, “Less calorie conscious than the rest of Canada, Quebec households take great pleasure in eating. The majority (82 per cent) also feel that it is important to enjoy full and regular meals each day, which compares to 60 per cent of western Canadians and 63 per cent of Ontarians. As a result, Quebec residents are also the least likely of all the provinces to snack. Twenty-nine per cent try to avoid snacking entirely and, unlike the rest of the country, have fewer snack occasions annually. Quebecers are also less likely to skip traditional meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner).” While I am generally cautious about inferring cause-and-effect, I am also the first to support any move to improving eating culture. As I have often said – fast food is more of a ‘fast’ than a ‘food’ problem. Improving eating culture in the rest of Canada requires a discussion of ‘values’ – apparently, Quebecers place a higher value on home cooking, regular eating, and finding pleasure in food than the rest of us. Changing this culture will take more than taxing and banning foods. Indeed, I am confident that changing culture will eventually change consumer behaviour, which in turn will ultimately change supply. No easy task – but perhaps worth a wider discussion. In the mean time, perhaps more of us should enjoy our desserts. AMS Edmonton, Alberta photo credit: Indiewench via photopin cc Grab the few last remaining tickets for tonight’s Dr. Sharma show online or at the door!
Need For Accommodation of Canadians With Obesity
Recently, I gave a talk to the Alberta Therapeutic Recreation Association’s annual meeting here in Edmonton. In my presentation, I addressed the fact that even the best-case scenario predicts that we will have millions of Canadians living with severe obesity in the coming decades. The following excerpts from my talk summarize my thoughts on this issue and the implications this will have for policy and decision makers. Readers, who receive this post by e-mail will need to visit my site to view the videos. Appreciate your comments, AMS Edmonton, Alberta
Fixing the Canadian Health Care System
Readers may recall that last week I spoke on obesity at the Conference Board of Canada’s Summit on Sustainable Health Care. The key learnings from this Conference are now elegantly summarized by Glen Hodgson, Senior VP and Chief Economist at the Conference Board on his blog Five key priorities for reform emerged from the Summit. Fix the gateway to the health care system. Primary care is the first contact point with the health care system. There was a strong consensus that interdisciplinary family care teams should be the standard model for primary care, and these teams should be expanded and strengthened in all provinces and territories. Invest in and use technology more intensively in the health care system, particularly information technology. More intensive and standardized use of information technology would allow patient information to be collected and shared seamlessly, making treatment much more efficient and thereby boost productivity in the health care system. Change health professional compensation. The compensation model for physicians and other health professionals should be linked to more patient outcomes, not to activities like treatment or consultation, within a clear accountability structure. Build an appropriate support system to care for the elderly. Few older Canadians want to be hospitalized for chronic conditions. They want to be cared for and healed where they live: in their homes and communities. Improve the state of Canadians’ overall health and wellness. A healthier population would slow the growth in chronic diseases and in health care demand—so Canada needs a “wellness system” as well as a health care system. Employers have an important role to play in supporting the wellness of their employees and their families. One aspect that is missing in this discussion, is the realisation that the obesity epidemic will lead to an unprecedented epidemic of ‘chronic disease of the young’. This will require taking chronic disease management directly to the workplace, an effort that goes well beyond current workplace ‘wellness’ activities. Rather, we should be looking at creating an infrastructure which (in collaboration with the primary care provider) takes chronic disease management directly to the workplace. The rationale for this is the simple fact, that contrary to the problem of chronic diseases in the elderly, younger people, who are likely to bear the brunt of the obesity epidemic, can ill afford to sit around in doctor’s waiting rooms during normal office hours. Even expecting them to show up in… Read More »
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