21 June 2012
Bigger Isn’t Always Better:
With over 50% of Canadian women overweight or obese, the time is now to
focus on the Nutritional Needs of Women
OTTAWA – Obesity has the potential to impact every aspect of a woman’s life – from fertility and
pregnancy, to her risk of cancer, menopause and even life expectancy. At an International Symposium
being held on June 23rd in conjunction with the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada’s
(SOGC) annual clinical meeting in Ottawa, the SOGC will announce its intention to develop a clinical
guideline on the nutritional requirements of girls and women through their lifespan.
“In most Canadian homes, it is women who decide what to buy at the grocery store, what to cook, and
what their families are going to eat. It surely makes sense to ensure that women have the best
information about nutrition and health, and that knowledge will have a positive impact on all those
decisions, and ultimately on their personal health, and that of their families,” said Dr. Mark Heywood,
President of the SOGC.
The SOGC believes a focus on nutrition at this time is both timely and necessary. The development of
a clinical guideline will enable health-care practitioners to renew their understanding of nutrition and
preventative health, and to enhance their ability to counsel girls and women about nutrition as they
mature from adolescence, to having a family, to menopause.
The SOGC is convening a multidisciplinary panel of experts on women’s health to take a
comprehensive look at the role women’s nutrition plays in their personal growth and development, as
well as the health of their children, and their families as a whole. The SOGC has invited the
participation of the following national organizations and clinical experts:
Dietitians of Canada
College of Family Physicians of Canada
Canadian Psychological Association
Canadian Psychiatric Association
Society of Rural Physicians of Canada
Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Canadian Cardiovascular Society
Canadian Association of Midwives
SOGC Aboriginal Health Initiative Committee
Dr. Jennifer Blake, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto
Dr. Gregory A. L. Davies, MD, Kingston General Hospital
Dr. Joan Crane, MD, Health Sciences Center, St. John’s NFLD
Dr. Deborah O'Connor, PhD, The Hospital for Sick Children
The SOGC Nutritional Needs of Women Guideline will bring a scientific, evidence-based context to this
health issue and include messaging on nutrition and wellness as integral to all women’s health as a
pillar of wellness that transcends a disease state, sexuality, or the menopause transition. Work on the
Guideline will begin in fall 2012.
The SOGC is pleased to recognize an unrestricted educational grant from Nestlé Nutrition Canada. As
a leader in nutrition and food science, we welcome their support.
- 30 For more information please contact:
Nancy Bickford, SOGC Communications and Public Education
Tel: (613) 730-4192 or 1-800-561-2416, ext. 330 cell (613) 866-2082
Fax: (613) 730-4314 Email: nbickford@sogc.com Website: www.sogc.org