Two out of three people living in Chatham-Kent are considered overweight or obese, according to the municipality’s top doctor.
Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Shanker Nesathurai made a presentation during a Chatham-Kent Board of Health meeting on Thursday and said around 65 per cent of Chatham-Kent residents are overweight or obese.
“Despite the prevalence of the condition, people with obesity experience stigma. Obesity is not a crime,” said Dr. Nesathurai. “People who are overweight are dismissed many times as lazy, lacking self-control, having lower intelligence.”
Dr. Nesathurai added that discrimination against people with unhealthy weight is the last remaining acceptable form of bigotry.
“Somehow we just look past that type of bigotry,” he said. “I would say many doctors are guilty of this; people who are overweight have their medical problems dismissed as being related to their weight.”
Obesity is calculated using a person’s height and weight to determine their body mass index (BMI). A BMI over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese.
Around 30 per cent of all adults living in Ontario are obese according to the most recent information from Statistics Canada.
Dr. Nesathurai said the best way to address the stigma associated with obesity is honest and respectful dialogue, and to reframe harmful language.