Physical Activity in Canada

• Current Physical Activity Levels
• Obesity Epidemic Grows
• Canadians Support Action

Current Physical Activity Levels

The most recent data about physical activity levels in Canada underscore the need for more improvement, as almost half of Canadians still remain not active enough to achieve or maintain health benefits.

Statistics Canada 's Canadian Community Health Survey examines physical activity levels in Canada every two years. The results of the most recent survey show that:

• Slightly over half of adults aged 20 and older are inactive, an improvement compared to 62% in 1994-95
• Physical inactivity levels generally worsen as we move from west to east
• By province, physical inactivity levels for Canadians aged 12 and over are:
  • Yukon 38%
  • Northwest Territories 42%
  • Nunavut 60%
  • British Columbia 39%
  • Alberta 43%
  • Saskatchewan 48%
  • Manitoba 47%
  • Ontario 47%
  • Quebec 51%
  • Nova Scotia 50%
  • New Brunswick 52%
  • Newfoundland 53%
  • Prince Edward Island 53%
• More women (50%) than men (44%) are inactive
• Physical inactivity increases with age
• Substantial inroads were made at reducing physical inactivity levels between 1981 and 2003, but much still remains to be done

Canada's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living recommends that to achieve health benefits, adults need to accumulate 30-60 minutes of physical activity most days of the week, preferably every day.

The Guide also indicates that there should be a mix of endurance activities (those that work the heart and lungs), flexibility activities (bending, stretching to keep muscles relaxed and joints mobile) and strength activities (those that strengthen muscles and bones plus improve posture).

Obesity Epidemic Grows

Rates of obesity and overweight have been increasing steadily over the last 20 years:

• According to the Canadian Community Health Survey, by 2003, 15% of adult Canadians were considered obese and 33% were considered overweight. An estimated 47% were in the normal range, and about 3% were underweight.
• About 16% of adult men were considered obese, slightly higher than the rate of 14% among adult women. Rates of obesity were highest in the 45 to 64 age group.
• Over one-third of Canadian children aged 2 to 11 were overweight in 1998/99, and of these, about half could be considered obese.

Canadians Support Action

The Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (CFLRI) is a national research agency concerned with advising, educating and informing Canadians and professionals about the importance of leading healthy, active lifestyles.

CFLRI conducts annual surveys on behalf of federal, provincial and territorial governments which offer insights into people's attitudes, values and behaviour regarding physical activity in Canada.

• The majority of Canadians hold strong beliefs that a healthy lifestyle and physical activity contributes to long-term health benefits and the reduction of chronic disease.
• Two-thirds of adults very strongly agree that being active regularly prevents heart disease. The majority also strongly believe that physical activity helps to reduce stress (65%) and maintain functional ability with age (64%).
• Almost two-thirds of Canadians believe that the government should increase spending to provide opportunities to support physical activity and 19% say that much more should be spent in this area.
• The majority of Canadians intend to be active and believe they have a high level of control over their choice to be active.
• Between 80% and 90% of individuals believe that regular physical activity improves the ability to cope and reduces stress, improves productivity, speeds recovery from minor illnesses, and helps employees be more effective on the job.