By Rajitha Sivakumaran
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I
n 2014, Statistics Canada released a report show-
ing that 54 per cent of Canadians over the age
of 18 were either overweight or obese. Although
most Canadians don’t view it as an illness, obesi-
ty is a chronic, progressive and relapsing medical
condition. New research about the genetic compo-
nent of obesity has emerged with implications that
change everything from how we view the condition
to how we must respond to it, particularly in terms
of the workplace and employee benefits coverage.
Dr. Sean Wharton, medical director of the Ontario-
based Wharton Medical Clinic, says that people are
born with the propensity to encounter higher rates
of weight gain. Put into an environment that is en-
riched in triggers that send body weight up, such as
easy access to calorie-dense foods or a lifestyle that
promotes little exercise, these people tend to expe-
rience higher chances of weight gain often leading
to an increase in cholesterol and blood sugar, and
a heightened risk of heart attack and stroke. Extra
weight and pressure on the joints can result in vari-
ous mechanical problems like osteoarthritis. Con-
stant negativity and the inability to meet societal
standards for weight can result in mental issues like
depression and anxiety.
JUNE 2016
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