CANADA'S TEENS: THEY'RE LAZY, FAT AND STONED

Global study of youth shows our kids are computer literate, but in bad
shape

A disturbing number of Canadian teenagers are fat, lazy, eat poorly
and smoke too much cannabis, according to a World Health Organization
report.

At first glance, a comprehensive study of more than 150,000 young
people from 35 countries suggests a nation of physically fit, computer
literate teenagers in generally good physical and mental health.

But John Freeman, one of the major Canadian contributors to the survey
- -- Health Behaviour in School-aged Children -- suggests all is not as
it might seem.

Mr. Freeman is part of a team of researchers from Queen's University
in Kingston who shared in the report, which is conducted every four
years and interviews 11-, 13- and 15-year-olds in Canada, the U.S. and
nearly all eastern and western European countries. It covers a
comprehensive list of health and health-related behaviours.

Canada prides itself on its level of physical activity and, with our
teens ranking in the top five countries for physical activity at all
age levels, that pride appears to be legitimate.

Our young people also rank extremely high when it comes to use of
computers. They were asked if they used a computer for three hours
during the week. Their answers left 11-year-olds ranked sixth,
13-year-olds third and 15-year-olds second.

On the weekends, Canada rose to first place in the two older categories.

We also sit sixth most obese among 13-year-olds and fourth among
15-year-olds, where the U.S. leads the list.

"This is high and seems to represent a strange juxtaposition with the
physical activity figures because we also have adolescents being more
sedentary in terms of the numbers of them using computers three or
more hours a day," Mr. Freeman says. "We are right near the top in
that category and mid-range for TV watching."

In other categories, such as cannabis use, Canada ranks at the top.

The report shows more Canadian 15-year-olds have used cannabis in the
last 12 months than in any other of the 35 countries -- 37.5 per cent
of girls and 43.3 per cent of boys admit to using cannabis, more than
double the average.

The researchers believe the physical activity figures may be skewed
because promotion campaigns for active living in Canada encourage
things like walking up and down stairs or strolling to the corner store.

"Perhaps our adolescents are reporting activities others are not,
which would raise our ranking," says Mr. Freeman.

"Even if the figures are accurate, however you look at it, we are
obese. It is clear we must increase the level of physical activity and
we must change eating habits."

Health Canada provided some of the funding for the report and is
particularly interested in the obesity, tobacco and cannabis figures
and will be looking at ways to address the problems, said spokeswoman
Aggie Adamczyk.

The survey sheds a comparatively good light on Canadian teens and
their cigarette habits. At 4.5 percent for girls and 3.8 per cent for
boys, our 13-year-olds are about middle of the pack when it comes to
smoking every day.

By the time they reach 15, the percentage reaches 11 percent for
girls and 12.8 percent for boys. By comparison, Greenland is at the
top of the list in every smoking category surveyed, with their
15-year-olds past 50 per cent.

The report also reveals:

- - Canadian teens are in the bottom third at all ages when asked if
they spent three hours a day on homework and almost as low when asked
the same question about weekends.

- - Around 70 per cent of our under-11-year-olds eat breakfast, compared
to almost 90 per cent of the table-topping Netherlands. Canadian girls
were found to eat breakfast progressively less as their age increases.

- - Canadians are in the top third of countries for eating fruit and
vegetables and in the lower third as consumers of soft drinks and candy.

- - The Canadian level of dieting and weight-control behaviour rises
with age. Among those under 11, the level stands at around 10 per
cent, low compared to other countries. The under-13s move into the top
10 with the percentage of boys unchanged and the percentage of girls
up to 21.5 per cent. At the oldest age group, Canada rises to fourth
place, again with girls leading the way at 29.2 per cent. Hungary is
top at 36.2 per cent.

- - 15-year-olds were asked if they had had sexual intercourse.
Twenty-four percent of girls and 24.7 percent of boys said yes.
Greenland was ahead of every other country at 78.8 per cent for girls
and 70.8 per cent for boys.