A couple of days ago there was a news story describing how elementary schools in the UK are considering sending warning letters home to the parents of overweight children about the health-related dangers of being overweight or obese.

Nobody is denying that obesity has become a significant health crisis in the western world; and one that needs to be addressed in short course, no less.

However, I can’t help thinking that a letter home to parents is a pathetic attempt at addressing the real issue. Let’s see how well it goes over when parents read a letter essentially saying “You’re child is fat!”.

We have all heard the ever increasing percentages of obesity rates in the western world. Click here to see an estimate of worldwide obesity rates based on BMI in 2005 and a prediction of rates in 2015, courtesy of WHO.

Though the efforts to combat obesity have gone global, there is a part of me that feels like we have heard the word “obesity” so many times in recent years, with solid education programs only beginning to be put into place, that I fear some of us have lost the fear that used to be associated with the word.

Remember when your mom kept telling you to clean your room? At some point, her pleas began to fall on deaf ears. We learn to tune things out when there are no immediate consequences or necessary involvement on our part.

In any case, I got to thinking about how difficult it would be to read a letter telling you that you have essentially not been keeping your child’s best interests in mind and have put his/her life in such grave danger that immediate action is required to prevent the unimagineable.

Then I began thinking about what positive steps a parent may want to take once they’ve let this horrible piece of news sink in, and how huge that mountain of “lifestyle change” must seem without any idea of where to begin or where to get support or information.

So, with a mountain looming before me, I began to do a little bit of research about what types of information are available and how people can access information and programs within their own communities. Let me tell you, I was amazed at what I was able to find.

The internet is a great resource for information; just be careful about the source of the information that you are looking at. Government based websites are always a good place to start. For example:

• HealthyOntario provides some great articles on different health-related topics so that you can get a better understanding of certain health problems. There are also some interesting tools here that allow you to do a self-assessment of symptoms you may be experiencing as well as test some health measurement tools.
• Active2010 is a government strategy to increase physical activity in Ontario by 2010. This website provides many activity-specific resources that are available in your area. There is also a link to the Pause to Play website that is geared toward kids.
• 211Toronto is also one of my newly discovered internet resources for health-related information as well as community based services and programs in your area. If you weren’t able to find what you were looking for online, feel free to call 211 in the Toronto area and you can speak with someone in person who can provide you with information on what you are looking for. Note: 211 is currently only available in select cities. However, a strategy is in place to make this service available to all canadians by 2011.

Another phone number that has been made available to Ontarians is Telehealth Ontario provided by the Government of Ontario. You can dial this phone number to speak with a nurse who can assess symptoms, provide advice and/or information on any number of health related topics. This service 100% free and confidential and you do not need an OHIP card to access this service.

For those of us who prefer in-person information, your local community health/resource centre is always a great place to start. They will have information on programs in the area in which you can participate in. Many of these programs are free of charge and they often allow you to physically participate in programs, rather than simply provide you with information. The YMCA is an example of a community resource centre that many of us are familiar with.

Finally, the good old community public library often has information on community activities that you may find helpful. Don’t be afraid to ask the librarians for information as they can also point you in the direction of the types of resources that you are looking for.

I realise that all of these resources are very Toronto/Canada-centric. However, my point is that all the information and resources you could possibly want are out there and it is a matter of having a starting place to look for it all. Once you’ve started your search, there’s no guessing where you may end up.

Don’t let yourself be a victim of the boy who cried “Obesity!”. There is help, information, resources and programs galore. You’re not alone in climbing the mountain of “Lifestyle Change”.