City of Richmond Targets Physical Inactivity
April 21, 2005
The City of Richmond, in partnership with a number of other concerned agencies, will begin battling the trend of inactivity by encouraging families and others to take a step in the right direction in celebration of World Move For Health Day 2005.
Childhood obesity is at epidemic levels in Canada. Young people are less active than ever before, with child obesity having tripled and the number of overweight children having doubled in the last 15 years. More than half of 12-to 21-year olds are not engaging in regular vigorous physical activity.
On May 7, 2005, World Move For Health Day will be observed in Richmond with a free family walk that will start and finish at Garry Point Park in Steveston. The walk will start at 9:00 am, rain or shine. Special draws will be held for those individuals who register prior to the day of the event. To register, please contact (604) 276-4300 and quote program number FT 24448.
Up to 300,000 preventable deaths occur worldwide each year due to diseases related to inactivity. In Canada, the direct cost of obesity has been estimated at more than $1.8 billion annually.
“Physical inactivity and obesity among children has dramatically risen over the past decade,” says Alison Dennis, the City of Richmond’s Fitness and Wellness Services Coordinator. “As those children grow into adults, we are going to see huge increases in health costs and deaths unless we take steps now to reverse the trend.”
The City of Richmond has a strong commitment to promote health and wellness. In 2002, the City received the BC Medical Association’s Award of Excellence for its commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles through wellness and other programs. Richmond residents were also judged the longest living in Canada in the 2001 Census, due in part to the community’s healthy lifestyles.
