<P> Obesity in Canada is a growing health concern, which is "expected to surpass smoking as the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality...and represents a burden of Can $3.96 (US $3.04 / € 2.75) billion on the Canadian economy each year ." </P> <P> As of 2017, research done by the Public Health Agency of Canada has reported that 64% of Canadian adults over the age of 18 are overweight or obese, and 30% of children aged 5 - 17 are overweight or obese . An independent study in the same year by Renew Bariatrics, a bariatric center for obesity treatment in the United States and Canada, reports 650 million adults and 135 million children and adolescents as obese . Studies suggest that if Canada invests $4.2 billion in treatment for obesity, the obesity rate could be significantly reduced to 29% . In children, obesity has substantially increased between 1978 and 2017, with obesity rates in children increasing from 23% to 30% . </P> <P> As of 2016, 16% of British Columbians are obese, making it the province with the lowest rate of obesity in Canada . The Northwest Territories have the highest obesity rate, at 33.7% . </P> <P> Although obesity is a treatable disease, there are a very few number of programs and resources available to Canadians that can help treat it . As of 2017, according to Obesity Canada, out of 80,544 physicians, only 40 are certified through the American Board of Obesity Medicine, with proper training to provide aid with weight management and obesity . Only 9 out of the 10 provinces in Canada, perform bariatric surgery, and only 114 surgeons and 33 centers provide this service . Making only 1 out of 183 Canadian adults eligible for it . Anti-Obesity medication is not available for more than 80% of Canada's population, because of the limited access to private drug benefit plans . In result of these limitations, support for cognitive behavioral therapy, and mental health support is also limited . </P>

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