Mats Sundin Takes Your Questions
Former NHL star pairs with U of T to eliminate childhood obesity
Toronto, ON – Hockey legend Mats Sundin built a career around healthy living, good nutrition, exercise and physical fitness.
Now, the former Toronto Maple Leafs Captain is pairing with U of T’s Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development to stamp out childhood obesity – and all the chronic, lifelong health problems that result from it.
“Obesity robs kids of their chance at a happy, healthy life, and that’s something that all children deserve,” says Sundin. “To tackle this very serious issue, we need to explore all the factors that put kids at risk for obesity – from fitness and nutrition to genetic and environmental influences – and that is exactly the type of game-changing research that’s happening at the Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development.”
To raise awareness about the issue of childhood obesity and the Institute’s cutting edge, cross-disciplinary research, Sundin is participating in a social media campaign to take your questions about health and fitness.
Using the hashtag #UofT, fans are encouraged to tweet their questions for Sundin to @UofTNews and @UofTMedicine before Monday, March 25. Fans can also find the Faculty of Medicine or the University of Toronto on Facebook and post their questions for Sundin.
Sticking to the theme of health, children’s health, fitness and nutrition, we’ll round up the ten best questions and put them to Sundin next week when he’s in town promoting the Institute. Then we’ll let you know how he responds.
Childhood obesity is a major research priority for the Institute because so many lifelong health and wellness issues stem from it, says Executive Director Stephen Lye, of the Faculty of Medicine’s Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Physiology. With backing from key supporters like Sundin, researchers can track the origins of obesity in a child’s early years and figure out how to stop it.
“We know that obesity at a young age leads to a slew of physical and mental challenges later in life, from serious chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease to disabling emotional and psychological issues,” says Lye. “Our researchers are looking at the first 2,000 days of a child’s life from a variety of perspectives - medical, nutritional, genetic and social - to understand how we can best intervene to set kids on a healthy path.”
What: Hockey legend Mats Sundin takes your questions on health, fitness, nutrition and childhood health.
Want to know about Mats’ fitness regime? Dying to try his favourite healthy recipe? Eager to know what his favourite sport was when he was young? Send us your questions and we’ll find out!
How: Using the hashtag #UofT, send us your questions to @UofTMedicine or @UofTNews or find the Faculty of Medicine or the University of Toronto on Facebook and post your questions there.
When: Submit your questions by Monday, March 25. We will compile the ten top questions and put them to Mats next week when he’s here to promote the Institute.
