Obesity

Research shows that one in two adults in Canada and the US are overweight. According to Statistics Canada, 18 percent of men and 16 percent of women are obese. The highest rate of obesity is among 55 to 64 year-olds: 24 percent of men and 21 percent of women in this age group are obese.

Excess weight increases risk of heart attack or stroke, diabetes and certain cancers.

Smoking has held the top spot for putting our health at risk, however, recent studies show that while smoking kills more people, the number of smokers has decreased. This decline combined with an increasing number of overweight individuals, makes obesity now the number one health risk.