Timmins is one of 45 communities across Ontario taking part in The Healthy Kids Community Challenge. The Healthy Kids Community Challenge unites communities with a common goal: promoting children’s health through physical activity and healthy eating. Misiway Milopemahtesewin Community Health Centre, with support from the City of Timmins, has been chosen as the lead organization for the Challenge within our community.

Our community will be launching projects that strive for that goal while meeting local needs.

How does it work?

About every nine months, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care will launch a new theme related to physical activity or healthy eating; two protective factors associated with healthy weights in children. Communities will rally around the theme, and work with partners in many sectors developing programs, policies and initiatives that promote and enable healthy behaviours.

The Timmins-Misiway Healthy Kids Community Challenge will bring together community partners from different sectors, such as public health, education, recreation and local business to collaborate on programs that promote healthy behaviours, reduce inequalities, and create safe places to play. Timmins will receive up to $175,000 per year over the next two years to implement local activities, programs, policies, and environmental supports related to specific themes set out by the Ministry.

Why now?

Between 2009 and 2011, the Ontario Health Status Report found that more than one quarter of children in Canada were overweight or obese. In 2013, the Healthy Kids Panel released its report No Time to Wait: The Healthy Kids Strategy. The panel recommended action to reduce those numbers.

In response, Ontario launched a cross-government Healthy Kids Strategy.

Ontario’s approach focuses on the health of the whole child. A healthy weight affects not just physical health, but also mental and emotional health, relationships, self-esteem and results in the classroom.

Quick Facts:

• Almost 30% of Ontario children and youth are overweight or obese.
• Childhood obesity is associated with an increased risk of chronic disease and premature death in adulthood.
• Children and youth who are overweight or obese are more likely to become obese adults. In one study, overweight 2-5 year olds were 4 times as likely to be overweight as adults.
• Adult obesity is associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease, stroke, hypertension, breast and colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, gall bladder disease and osteoarthritis.
• Unhealthy weights can influence self-esteem, social inclusion and mental health in children and youth.