Canada: More Kids Show Poor Eating, Exercise and Lifestyle Habits

"A growing number of children are adopting unhealthy eating, exercise and other lifestyle habits, according to a new report, fuelling fears young Canadians will have a shorter average lifespan than their parents. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario released a report yesterday that compares the heart health of children across the province to those of a similar national survey conducted more than 10 years ago. It found that fewer children are eating an adequate amount of fresh produce or maintaining physical activity during the winter months compared with the previous report. About three-quarters of children are consuming junk food as much as twice a week, and about 25 per cent of kids eat it more than three times a week, rates that have not improved since the last report was published in 1998. 'This is extremely disturbing given the rising tide of [being] overweight and obesity among Canadian children,' said Marco Di Buono, director of research for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario."