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McGuinty wants Feds to tackle obesity issue – Metro US

McGuinty wants Feds to tackle obesity issue

Ottawa should be more involved in fighting childhood obesity rather than having the provinces take action by forcing restaurants and schools to post calorie counts on menus, Premier Dalton McGuinty said Wednesday.

Obesity is a problem across Canada, and the federal government should take a closer look at what doctors are recommending to fight it, he said.

“The whole issue of childhood obesity — it’s not an Ontario issue,” he said.

“I’ve spoken with other premiers about this. This is an issue that affects all the provinces and all the territories, and I’d love to see some federal leadership in this regard.”

McGuinty was responding to the Ontario Medical Association’s calls for the province to enact legislation that would see calories listed on menus in restaurants and school cafeterias.

That would allow people to make healthier choices about what they’re eating, the doctors group said.