RESUMEN

A whole-system perspective is critical in efforts to create a healthy population and a productive, equitable, and sustainable food system. In 2009, the Ontario Collaborative Group on Healthy Eating and Physical Activity undertook a bold initiative to develop a comprehensive provincial strategy encompassing the entire food system. The Ontario Food and Nutrition Strategy was shaped through extensive consultation with diverse stakeholders. This strategy identified strategic directions and priority actions for productive, equitable, and sustainable food systems intended to promote the health and well-being of all Ontarians. Paramount to the strategy is a collaborative governance mechanism allowing for a cross-government, multistakeholder coordinated approach to food policy development. Key actors participated in a collective impact process to develop a theory of change and potential governance model. Different models for collaborative work were examined and a governance model for a multistakeholder coordinated provincial mechanism was proposed. Lessons learned from this process will inform others involved in food systems work at the provincial, regional, or local level and may pave the way towards successful inter-sectoral action on priority recommendations geared towards improved nutrition-related and food systems outcomes.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

INTRODUCTION: To address challenges Canadians face within their food environments, a comprehensive, multistakeholder, intergovernmental approach to policy development is essential. Food environment indicators are needed to assess population status and change. The Ontario Food and Nutrition Strategy (OFNS) integrates the food, agriculture and nutrition sectors, and aims to improve the health of Ontarians through actions that promote healthy food systems and environments. This report describes the process of identifying indicators for 11 OFNS action areas in two strategic directions (SDs): Healthy Food Access, and Food Literacy and Skills. METHODS: The OFNS Indicators Advisory Group used a five-step process to select indicators: (1) potential indicators from national and provincial data sources were identified; (2) indicators were organized by SD, action area and data type; (3) selection criteria were identified, pilot tested and finalized; (4) final criteria were applied to refine the indicator list; and (5) indicators were prioritized after reapplication of selection criteria. RESULTS: Sixty-nine potential indicators were initially identified; however, many were individual-level rather than system-level measures. After final application of the selection criteria, one individual-level indicator and six system-level indicators were prioritized in five action areas; for six of the action areas, no indicators were available. CONCLUSION: Data limitations suggest that available data may not measure important aspects of the food environment, highlighting the need for action and resources to improve system-level indicators and support monitoring of the food environment and health in Ontario and across Canada.

INTRODUCTION: Une approche intergouvernementale multilatérale globale en matière d'élaboration de politiques est essentielle pour permettre aux Canadiens et aux Canadiennes de faire face aux défis que pose leur environnement alimentaire. Des indicateurs de l'environnement alimentaire sont nécessaires pour évaluer l'état et l'évolution de la population. La Stratégie sur l'alimentation et la nutrition de l'Ontario (SANO), qui regroupe les secteurs de l'alimentation, de l'agriculture et de la nutrition, vise à améliorer la santé de la population ontarienne par des interventions favorisant des systèmes et des environnements alimentaires sains. Cet article décrit le processus d'établissement d'indicateurs pour 11 secteurs d'intervention de la SANO dans deux orientations stratégiques : l'accès à des aliments sains et l'alphabétisme et les compétences alimentaires. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Le groupe consultatif sur les indicateurs de la SANO a suivi un processus en cinq étapes pour choisir les indicateurs : 1) choix des indicateurs potentiels dans les sources de données provinciales et nationales, 2) catégorisation des indicateurs par orientation stratégique, par secteur d'intervention et par type de données, 3) établissement, essai pilote et finalisation des critères de sélection, 4) application des critères finaux pour améliorer la liste des indicateurs et 5) établissement des indicateurs prioritaires après cette application finale des critères de sélection. RÉSULTATS: Soixante-neuf indicateurs potentiels ont été recensés au départ, mais un grand nombre d'entre eux offraient des mesures individuelles et non collectives. Après l'application finale des critères de sélection, ont été jugés prioritaires un indicateur individuel et six indicateurs collectifs associés à cinq secteurs d'intervention, aucun indicateur n'étant disponible pour les six autres secteurs d'intervention. CONCLUSION: Les limites des données existantes laissent penser qu'on ne peut sans doute pas qualifier certaines caractéristiques importantes de l'environnement alimentaire, d'où l'importance de prendre des mesures et d'allouer des ressources pour améliorer les indicateurs collectifs et d'appuyer le suivi de l'environnement alimentaire et de la santé alimentaire tant en Ontario que dans le reste du Canada.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

The need has never been greater to support healthy eating and physical activity in children and youth; the numbers of overweight and obese children have doubled and tripled, respectively, over the past 3 decades. Poor eating habits, including inadequate intake of vegetables, fruit, and milk, and eating too many high-calorie snacks, play a role in childhood obesity. Grain products provide the highest percentage (31%) of daily calories, followed by "other foods," which have limited nutritional value (22% of daily calories). Snacks account for 27% of total daily calories, which is more than the calories consumed at breakfast (18%) and lunch (24%), but not dinner (31%). For Canadians older than 4 years of age, more than 41% of daily snack calories come from other foods, such as chips, chocolate bars, soft drinks, fruit drinks, sugars, syrup, preserves, fats, and oils. Habits that protect against childhood obesity include eating more vegetables and fruit, eating meals with family, and being physically active. Children's food habits and choices are influenced by family, caregivers, friends, schools, marketing, and the media. Successful interventions for preventing childhood obesity combine family- and school-based programs, nutrition education, dietary change, physical activity, family participation, and counseling.

Asunto(s)