Rising obesity rates drive up health risks and costs, prompting renewed focus on workplace wellness
Nearly three in four Canadian men now have a body mass index (BMI) associated with increased health risks.
Almost two in three women fall into the same category, according to new data released by Statistics Canada. This highlights a growing challenge for organizations concerned with employee health and benefits.
As reported by the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS), the period from 2022 to 2024 saw 68 percent of adults aged 18 to 79 classified as overweight or having obesity, up from 60 percent before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The prevalence of obesity alone jumped from 25 percent to 33 percent in this period, with the most significant increases among young adults aged 18 to 39.
These findings align with research suggesting that pandemic-related changes in lifestyle, such as reduced physical activity and increased sedentary behaviour, have contributed to higher obesity levels.
Abdominal obesity, which is closely linked to cardiometabolic risks, is also on the rise.
Nearly half of adults (49 percent) now have a waist circumference above the Canadian thresholds for increased health risk, with rates higher among women (55 percent) than men (42 percent).
The prevalence of abdominal obesity has increased most sharply among men, rising by 10 percentage points since the previous survey cycle.
The CHMS highlights that overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity are all linked to a higher likelihood of developing serious conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and certain cancers.
These trends have direct implications for the health and productivity of Canada’s working-age population, as well as for the design and sustainability of group benefits plans.
While rates of overweight and obesity among children and youth aged 5 to 17 have remained stable, nearly one in three is still classified in the overweight or obesity range, according to Statistics Canada.
Monitoring these trends from early childhood remains important, as excess weight is linked to both immediate and long-term health challenges.
