Kenora flash mob impact ripples through the region

[Paul Murphy]

Kenora flash mob impact ripples through the region
Posted 23 hours ago

Jon Thompson

Miner and News

The Kenora Flash Mob wasn’t just a flash in the pan.

Thunder Bay’s Paul Murphy has shared the inspiration he felt throughout the Internet by distributing the video of 800 Kenora students dancing on Main Street in matching pink t-shirts last month.

“The feedback I’m getting from Kenora Flash Mob is amazing,” he said. “The dance they did just knocked me off. I don’t need anybody telling me about bullying. All you have to do is watch that video and it’s about promoting acceptance — promoting who you are today and from now on. What Kenora flash mob does is open the door in a whole new way. We have dance programs in the US for physical activity. What’s the by-product of being a bit more active? Eating better, feeling better, having a bit more self-esteem.”

Murphy has been off work for over seven years, victimized by the stigma of obesity in his job as a jail guard. He has been connecting with individual efforts among North American children and attempting to work his way into federal funding to start his own programming in Northwestern Ontario. The local Flash Mob struck a chord with his vision.

“I think we need to re-configure the war on childhood obesity,” he explained. “The problem is doctors in Canada are seeing eating disorders in kids under five (years-old). It’s not because of TV and computer games. It’s because the food environment has changed. There’s not a single piece of evidence that any of these programs have been successful.”

Murphy’s dream is to conduct a trial project on shared accountability and address obesity in the Kenora district.

“Overweight and obese children are not the enemy,” he said. “We want to tackle blood pressure. It’s a good indicator of fitness level. Could an overweight person be healthy? Are all overweight people unhealthy?”

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[Paul Murphy]

[Paul Murphy]

Thank you for your e-mail to the Ministry Of Health and Long-Term Care regarding childhood obesity.

The government is working hard to promote healthy living. Obesity in childhood can lead to many health effects later in life such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. Because the costs associated with these chronic diseases are significant on both the health of Ontarians and our health care system, the ministry is acting now to reduce childhood obesity in Ontario.

Success on this issue will require partnerships. As a result, the Healthy Kids Panel made up of experts including health care leaders, non-profit organizations and industry, has been set up to help reach the goal of reducing childhood obesity by 20 per cent over five years. The panel of experts will report back to the Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister, later this year with its first recommendations.

Both healthy eating and tobacco use are modifiable risk factors that have been strongly associated with the most common chronic diseases. The ministry is taking action to address both of these risk factors to improve and protect the health of Ontarians.

With respect to trauma teams in youth custody settings, this issue may more appropriately be addressed to the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, if you haven’t done so already.

I hope this is helpful.

Sincerely,

Correspondence Services