Media Release

For Immediate Release:  April 5, 2007   

Noted Child Obesity Expert on Speaking Tour of Grey Bruce

“Today’s children will be the first generation for some time to have poorer health outcomes and a shorter life expectancy than their parents.”  That grim prediction is the professional assessment of many health experts, and was restated by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health in the report released last week on childhood obesity called Healthy Weights for Healthy Kids.

Noted child health expert, Randy Calvert, will be talking locally about what our communities can and should be doing to prevent this prediction from becoming a reality.  Calvert is the Manager of the Children’s Exercise and Nutrition Centre at McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton. 

He will be presenting at six information sessions across Grey and Bruce in April and May.  All sessions are from 7 to 9 p.m. and free to all community members. 

• Wed. Apr. 18, Grey Highlands S.S., Cafetorium, Flesherton

• Thurs. Apr. 19, Peninsula Shores D.S., Auditorium, Wiarton

• Tues. Apr. 24, John Diefenbaker S.S., Gym 1 & 2, Hanover

• Wed. Apr. 25, Saugeen District S.S., Cafetorium, Port Elgin

• Thurs. Apr. 26, O.S.C.V.I., Theatre Arts Rm., Owen Sound

• Wed. May 2, Kincardine District S.S., Gym, Kincardine

Canada has one of the highest childhood obesity rates in the developed world, ranking fifth out of 34 OECD countries.   Twenty-six per cent of young Canadians aged 2 to 17 years are overweight or obese -- a very sharp increase from 15 per cent in 1978. 

 “Both the short and long-term health effects of the obesity epidemic are truly alarming,” said Calvert. 

Calvert points out that although there has been plenty of media attention about overweight and obese children, many children in the appropriate weight ranges are not doing everything they need to be healthy, so they too are at risk for some very serious future illnesses.

The Bluewater Parent Involvement Committee is sponsoring the events for parents, educators, community members, municipal representatives and sport leaders to examine ways we can improve home, school and community environments.  Parents and community members are invited to hear Calvert talk about the key behaviours and habits we should focus on, as Calvert lays out a clear plan for improving our children’s health.

“A number of parents had the opportunity to hear Mr. Calvert speak last year. His message was so important and compelling, and he was such an interesting and dynamic speaker, that we immediately started to make plans to have him come back,” said Parent Involvement Committee co-chair Gail Fullerton.  “He has a very down-to-earth, no nonsense approach, with practical solutions for parents, as well as for schools and communities.”

The House of Commons Report suggests that Canadian parents are in denial about the weight of their own children.  This “disconnect” is something that Calvert’s speaking engagements are helping to diminish. 

“We know that in Grey-Bruce, overweight and obesity rates are higher than provincial rates for all age groups measured,” said Fullerton.  “Our whole community needs to hear his message. It is time to start talking about this issue, and we are hoping this will initiate the conversation.”

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Randy Calvert is available for media interviews prior to these events, by calling “Paging” at Hamilton Health Sciences Centre, 905-521-5030 and having Randy paged.

About Randy Calvert

Randy Calvert, B. Kin., MSc. is the Program Manager at Children's Exercise and Nutrition Centre. He received his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology at McMaster University in 1988, and completed his Masters degree in Physiology/Pharmacology in the Medical Sciences program at McMaster University. As an Exercise Physiologist, his clinical experience includes exercise evaluation, counselling, and research involving children and adolescents with a variety of exercise and nutrition related illnesses and diseases.

About the Children’s Exercise and Nutrition Centre, McMaster Children’s Hospital

The Children’s Exercise and Nutrition Centre provides a multidisciplinary clinical, research and educational service for children and adolescents.  The Centre’s clinical program involves consultation, education, and prescription of physical activity, nutrition, and lifestyle alterations to modify health-related behaviours of patients, their families, and caregivers.

About the Bluewater Parent Involvement Committee

The Parent Involvement Committee will facilitate parent participation at the school and board level and develop strategies to help school councils reduce the barriers to parental involvement in their children's education.

Attachment: Healthy Weights for Healthy Kids backgrounder.

For more information, and to reach Parent Involvement Committee members for interviews, please contact:

Susan Geisel

Bluewater District School Board
System Communications Assistant
(519) 363-2014 ext. 233 or email susan_geisel@bwdsb.on.ca