It seems that Canadian women are having more trouble than most in controlling their weight. Not only are women in Canada gaining weight faster than men, they are also becoming overweight quicker than most other women in the West.

This news was published in the medical journal called the Lancet, which has been tracking trends throughout the globe. The Lancet looked at three major risk factors namely heart disease, cholesterol and blood pressure.

The results found were rather disturbing. For instance, it was discovered that despite reductions in total cholesterol and blood pressure in what the Lancet called ‘high-income’ countries including Canada, there is an increase in obesity across all the nations studied. Figures show that the amount is 2.5 – 3 pounds per decade over the three decades tracked.

Canada unfortunately is among the highest in terms of mass index levels, although the USA did beat Canada to the number one spot. The Lancet describes this nation as the ‘heavyweight champion’.

According to the World Health Organisation, (WHO) a person is classed as obese if their Body Mass Index (BMI) which is the ratio between weight and height is more than 25. Canadian women were on average found to have a BMI of 24.1 in 1980 but rising to 26.7 in 2008. Canadian men’s BMI also rose but the figure is much smaller – 25.2 in 1980 and 27.5 in 2008.

The worry is that this trend doesn’t seem to be going to stop any time soon; it may even get worse.

The consequences will be huge both financially and in terms of preventing what the Lancet describes as unnecessary deaths.

Nations worldwide are being called on to take drastic action. Whether they will remains to be seen.