The Walk
Strides for Obesity is a fun-filled, family-friendly, and non-competitive walk or run that is 3K (but participants can walk or run any distance they are comfortable with) that takes place in Halifax, Nova Scotia every year.
Strides for Obesity is both an obesity awareness walk and a community fundraiser for the Halifax Obesity Network. Since 2016, Strides has raised over $70,000 for patient resources and programs, all thanks to the participants, donors, and sponsors who are driven to make a difference and to create awareness, bring respect and proper treatment opportunities to those living with obesity.
The Cause
It takes determination to take on obesity. Individuals living with obesity face widespread weight bias and discrimination - from strangers, educators, employers, health professionals, media, and even friends and family. This has negative consequences including shame and guilt, anxiety, depression, poor self-esteem, and body dissatisfaction that can lead to unhealthy weight-control practices. Obesity also increases the likelihood of various diseases, particularly heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, certain types of cancer, and osteoarthritis. In fact, obesity now outranks smoking as the biggest contributor to chronic illness in health care costs.
Here in Nova Scotia, we are losing the fight against obesity. About 36% of Nova Scotians have obesity, while another 31% are overweight. That means that over two-thirds of Nova Scotians have either obesity or are overweight. The number of obese adults in Nova Scotia has tripled in the last 30 years. The number of people living with obesity is still climbing, with more than one-third of Nova Scotians now classified as obese, creating an increased demand for bariatric surgery. At the QEII, the procedure is known as a vertical sleeve gastrectomy, however, this life-changing surgery has a seven-year average, the longest wait time in Canada. There is much more to the program than the actual surgery. The program involves education, mentoring, lifestyle behaviour change, and chronic disease management. The need to increase these resources and access to treatment is dire.
The Funds
Every dollar you raise through Strides for Obesity helps the Halifax Obesity Network in their efforts to:
- Increase public awareness of obesity as a chronic disease.
- Educate patients, families, the general public, and the government about obesity.
- Address the social stigma surrounding obesity.
- Invest in obesity patient programs to improve access to care.
- Advocate to the government and stakeholders on behalf of those affected by obesity.
- Improve the quality of life of Nova Scotians affected by the disease.
The First Step
Ready to make the first step to making a positive impact? Register for Strides for Obesity as an individual or as part of a team.
If you can’t make it to Strides for Obesity, you can still support the cause by making a donation to the event, a team, or an individual walker.
With your support, we can make
STRIDES FOR OBESITY!