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Public health strategies promoting physical activity and healthy eating in Canada: are we changing paradigms?

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Public Health

Abstract

Objectives

To compare the extent to which Canadian public health organizations incorporated the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion action areas in promoting physical activity and healthy eating in 2004 and 2010.

Methods

Data were available from repeat censuses of all regional, provincial, and national organizations with mandates to promote physical activity [n = 134 (2004); n = 118 (2010)] or healthy eating [n = 137 (2004); n = 130 (2010)]. Eleven strategies to promote these behaviors were grouped according to the five action areas. Descriptive analyses were conducted to document the level of involvement in each action area over time.

Results

The proportion of organizations promoting physical activity and “heavily involved” in creating supportive environments increased from 51 % (2004) to 70 % (2010). The proportion also increased for reorienting health services (29 % to 39 %). The proportion of organizations promoting healthy eating and “heavily involved” in building healthy public policy increased from 47 to 53 %. Individual skill building remained stable for physical activity but declined for healthy eating.

Conclusions

While developing personal skills remains important in promoting physical activity and healthy eating in Canada, public health organizations increased involvement in structural-level strategies.

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Acknowledgments

Katerina Maximova holds a Career Development Award in Prevention funded by the Canadian Cancer Society (Grant Number 702936). Jennifer O’Loughlin holds a Canada Research Chair in the Early Determinants of Adult Chronic Disease. Nathalie Théôret assisted with the preparation of this manuscript. All interpretations and opinions in the present study are those of the authors.

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Correspondence to Nancy Hanusaik.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research [Grant Number SEC 117124] and the Medical Services Incorporated (MSI) Foundation [Grant Number 853].

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Maximova, K., Hanusaik, N., Kishchuk, N. et al. Public health strategies promoting physical activity and healthy eating in Canada: are we changing paradigms?. Int J Public Health 61, 565–572 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-016-0826-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-016-0826-8

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