Would you say you are more or less physically active than people of your age 15 years ago? Odds are you are more active. The Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute examined this question by taking physical activity levels from the 1981 Canada Fitness Survey and comparing them with our current physical activity levels from the 1995 Physical Activity Monitor. For every demographic group, this comparison revealed that we are more active than our predecessors in 1981.

Today's seniors, born before the Depression, are more active than were seniors in 1981. Likewise, Canadians born during the Depression are more active than people their own age in 1981. Had Depression kids kept the same activity levels as their 1981 predecessors, 18% of them would now be active. Instead, 28% are now active, representing a 10-percentage-point gain over their predecessors' activity level.

For Canadians born after the Depression, the gap between the projected and actual physical activity levels is even more dramatic. World War II babies and baby boomers, including early and mid-boomers as well as Gen-Xers, are in fact twice as active as people of the same age in 1981.

Most demographic groups have thus increased their physical activity levels, and this despite an aging population. Canadians entering their retirement years — the Depression and World War II babies — are well on their way to be more active than current seniors. This is good news as it increases their chances of living independently longer than previous generations.

Nevertheless, many Canadians still have a long way to go before being considered active enough to benefit their health. Even in the most active demographic group, the twenty-something baby busters, only half are deemed active. But by maintaining the current pattern of exceeding our predecessors' activity levels over time, we will make definite progress toward the goal of an active, healthy Canada.