Background of the Survey
In 1981, the Canada Fitness Survey provided a detailed portrait of the physical recreation habits, physical fitness, and health status of the Canadian population. More than 23,000 persons aged 7 and older participated in that historic survey, providing baseline data representing all Canadians except the 3% not living in households.

Approximately one-fifth of the 1981 sample was contacted to participate in the follow-up, conducted in March and April, 1988. The majority of the 4,000 respondents in the 1988 survey participated in both the 1981 and the 1988 studies, thus making the 1988 Campbell Survey on Well-Being in Canada the first national longitudinal survey of physical activity.

During a household visit, the 4,000 participants filled out a questionnaire and went through a series of fitness tests known as the Canadian Standardized Test of Fitness.

Objectives
The essential purposes of the 1988 survey were to provide an update of the 1981 Canada Fitness Survey information, examine the contribution of exercise to health, and investigate adherence over time to a regular physical activity routine.

Specifically, the objectives for the Campbell Survey on Well-Being in Canada were

• to describe changes in the patterns of physical recreation and physical fitness in the Canadian population between 1981 and 1988;
  
  
• to identify the demographic profile of those who increased, maintained, or decreased their habitual activity levels during this period;
  
  
• to analyze the relationship between health status in 1988 and activity patterns during the period 1981-88 and, in particular, to examine the impact of low-intensity exercise;
  
  
• to examine the relationship between 1981-88 activity patterns and motivations, incentives, barriers, and social circumstances.

Main Survey Findings

The Canadian population aged 15 and older was more active in 1988 than in 1981, whether defined by total energy expenditure or simply by time spent on physical recreation.

• One-third of Canadians aged 10 and older can be classified as active in their leisure time. This conclusion is based on the total amount of energy expended by an individual on all physical recreation activities. By this same approach, 43% are regarded as inactive and one-quarter as moderately active in their leisure time.
  
  
• Although one-third of Canadians may be considered active, only 11% are active at a moderate intensity or higher for at least 30 minutes every other day. Almost 40% are active at this duration and frequency, but at a lower intensity. Another 14% are active every other day for less than 30 minutes, while 38% exercise irregularly and for less than 30 minutes at a time.
  
  
• When the leisure-time energy expenditure of the same individuals is compared for 1981 and 1988, one-third of the total population aged 15 and older was found to be inactive in both surveys. These individuals accounted for the largest single segment of the population in 1988. One-quarter of the population started a regular exercise routine between 1981 and 1988, and a similar proportion adhered to established practice by maintaining its activity level or making modest increases or decreases. Only 14% of Canadians had a lapse in their activity level.
  
  
• Walking for exercise was the most common form of physical recreation in 1988, and was reported by 6 out of 10 Canadians. Other activities reported by more than one-third of the population were gardening, swimming, bicycling, social dancing, and home exercise.
  
  
• Canadians described their dietary patterns as changing in ways generally considered healthful: more poultry, fish, fruit, and vegetables, and less red meat and total calories. Contrary to popular belief, there are very little gender differences in adherence to guidelines for sensible eating. However, young women (aged 15-24) are notable for their low adherence to recommended nutritional practice. Middle-aged men (aged 45-64) are also less likely than average to follow the Canada Food Guide. For more recent information on Canadians' eating habits, contact the National Institute of Nutrition at nin@nin.ca.
  
  
• One-third of the Canadian population aged 15 and older may be at risk due to obesity, whether defined by body mass index (BMI), amount of subcutaneous fat, or location of fat. Each of these definitions describes a condition associated with premature death.
  
  
• On average, Canadian men aged 10 and older weigh 76 kilograms and measure 174 centimetres. Canadian women weigh 61 kilograms and measure 161 centimetres. Detailed anthropometric information is available for various age groups in the following PDF document:
  (PDF: 22 KB / 6 pages)