At their annual general meeting November 2nd, 2018 the Yukon Medical Association voted unanimously to recognize obesity as a chronic medical disease requiring enhanced research, treatment and prevention efforts. With an obesity rate of 1 in 3 Yukoners (34%, compared with 26% of Canadians), the association hopes that this recognition will trigger further steps to tackle the disease among policy makers, governments and health care professionals.
The Canadian Medical Association recognized obesity as a disease in 2015, as did the Saskatchewan Medical Association. The Yukon Medical Association has become the second PTMA to follow suit, in the hope that this motion will inspire a wave “ad mare usque ad mare” among the rest of the provinces and territories in Canada.
