The Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) welcomes the opportunity to join world health organizations, researchers, and International and Canadian governments in efforts to ensure children and youth are protected from marketing efforts promoting unhealthy food and beverage consumption. The negative impact of this type of targeted marketing over time has been linked to the rise in childhood obesity, and highlighted in a recent campaign encouraging Canadians to take action.

“The prevalence of unhealthy weights in children and youth is linked to type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, poor emotional health and poor social well-being,” says Richard Blickstead, President and CEO of the Canadian Diabetes Association. “Protecting children from harmful commercial food and beverage marketing is part of an integrated approach to promoting healthy weight.”

The factors associated with being overweight or obese are complex and include health behaviours, such as eating habits and daily physical activity, and broader social, environmental and biological determinants that influence these health behaviours.

The CDA has called for a multi-pronged approach to promoting healthy weights in the report Diabetes: Canada at the Tipping Points – Charting a New Path.