Photo courtesy of Concerned Children's Advertisers (CCA)

Concerned Children’s Advertisers (CCA), along with a number of other leading media companies, launched a new initiative today called Healthy Me Week. The movement, which runs until June 10, is dedicated to motivating and inspiring Canadian families to take action on their health.

According to CCA’s website, global rates of childhood obesity have increased five times over the last decade, and Canadian rates of obesity with boys and girls alike have doubled over the past 15 years. Two of the main causes of obesity are a lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating patterns. The solution?  Developing a balance through being active and eating healthy.

Child obesity rates are a hot topic here at CF. In “Bringing Home the Gold”—an article featured in our summer issue (available across Canada June 14)—statistics show that 26 percent of Canadian youth between ages six and 19 are overweight or obese, and that only 7 percent of Canadian youth are active enough to make health gains.

We love the idea of Healthy Me Week and think it’s a great opportunity to learn more about and develop a healthier way of life. With summer just around the corner, getting your kids to be active outdoors will be a breeze—especially with these cool toys! You can also get your kids on board with healthy eating by whipping up some fun, nutritious snacks.

And for grown-ups who need some motivation, check out Canadian Family editor-in-chief Jen Reynolds’ story about her life-changing decision to become more active.