Big kids (and getting bigger)

Of the major health issues facing Canadians, one is highly visible: obesity is on the rise across the country.

Two major studies released this fall examined the prevalence of obesity in Canadian children. Both the Canadian Health Measures survey, conducted from 2009 to 2011, and a study in the journal Obesity found that almost a third of Canadians age five to 17 are overweight or obese, and young boys are most at risk.

As childhood weight issues are linked to adult obesity, diabetes and other illnesses, recent reports sound an alarm for public health officials and parents alike. Here, a by-the-numbers look at the emerging epidemic.

• Bing: Calculate your child's Body Mass Index (BMI)
• Video: New study shows one in three Canadian children is overweight