CANADA

How many Canadians are not active enough?

• Current estimates from the 1998/99 National Population Health Survey (NPHS) indicate that the majority of Canadians (55%) are physically inactive.
  
  
• 57% of adults aged 18 and older are considered insufficiently active for optimal health benefits. (2001 Physical Activity Monitor)
  
  
• Although the NPHS is similar in approach, differences in method, particularly scoring, result in different estimates of inactivity compared with those published from the Physical Activity Monitor (PAM). Nonetheless, the same conclusions can be drawn from both the NPHS and the PAM, namely:
  
  
  • the level of physical inactivity decreased between the late 1990s and 2001;
    
    
  • the majority of Canadians still face increased risk of chronic disease and premature death due to physically inactive lifestyles;
    
    
  • more women than men are physically inactive; and
    
    
  • physical inactivity increases with age.

Other key findings from the National Population Health Survey, 1998/99

• Physical inactivity declined significantly since the early 1990s, going from 62% in 1994 to 55% in 1998.
  
  
• A substantial number of Canadians in every province are insufficiently active, with the highest rates of inactivity occurring in Newfoundland (61%), Prince Edward Island (62%), New Brunswick (63%), and Manitoba (61%) and the lowest in British Columbia (47%).
  
  
• Slightly more women (59%) than men (52%) are physically inactive.
  
  
• The proportion of those physically inactive increases with age. Sex-related differences are most apparent among older adults, where 67% of women are inactive compared with 55% of men.
  
  
• The level of physical inactivity decreases as education level increases (64% among those with less than secondary graduation versus 51% among university and college graduates). Moreover, as income level increases, the proportion who are physically inactive decreases (62% versus 44%).
  

Popularity of physical recreation activities, age 20+

• The top five most popular physical activities in Canada reported by adults in a previous three-month period are walking (69%), gardening and yard work (48%), home exercise (29%), swimming (24%), and bicycling (24%). (1998/99 NPHS)
  
  

  Walking for exercise	69%
  Gardening, yard work	48
  Home exercise	29
  Swimming	24
  Bicycling	24
  Social dancing	22
  Golf	13
  Jogging, running	12
  Weight training	11
  Fishing	11
  Bowling	8
  Exercise classes, aerobics	7
  Baseball, softball	7
  In-line skating	6
  Skating	5
  Basketball	4
  Hockey	4
  Tennis	4
  Volleyball	3
  Alpine skiing	3

  (1998/99 NPHS)

• Although the NPHS is similar in approach, differences in method, particularly in the reference period for collection, result in lower estimates. The NPHS collects data using the previous three months as opposed to using the previous 12 months, as was done when collecting data in the past via the PAM.
  
  
• Women are more likely than men to report walking, participating in exercise classes, and social dancing. Men are more likely than women to report participating in tennis, bowling, swimming, fishing, golfing, skating and playing hockey.
  
  
• Walking remains the most popular activity regardless of age, followed by gardening and home exercise.
  

What about children?

• According to the 1998/99 National Population Health Survey (NPHS), 58% of Canadian youth aged 12-19 were physically inactive in the three months prior to the survey. However, as many as 84% may not have been active enough to meet international guidelines for optimal growth and development.
  
  
• Girls are significantly less active than boys, with 64% of girls and 52% of boys being considered physically inactive. In addition, youth living in higher income families are the least likely to be physically inactive (44% versus between 57% and 67% for other income levels). (1998/99 NPHS)
  
  
• For the purpose of these analyses, the term physically inactive is equivalent to an energy expenditure of less than three kilocalories per kilogram of body weight per day (KKD). International guidelines for youth require a much higher level of activity (6-8 KKD). This level of physical activity can be achieved by a half hour of martial arts plus walking for a total of at least one hour throughout the day.
  

What are the popular physical activities for youth?

• Walking is reportedly the most popular activity for adolescents aged 12-19, with 60% of youth reporting walking in the three months prior to the survey. Here is the list of most popular physical activities for youth:
  
  

  Walking for exercise	60%
  Bicycling	48
  Swimming	46
  Jogging, running	44
  Basketball	37
  Social dancing	37
  Home exercise	36
  Gardening, yard work	28
  In-line skating	28
  Volleyball	26
  Weight training	25
  Bowling	20
  Baseball, softball	17
  Skating	14
  Exercise classes, aerobics	14
  Fishing	13
  Golf	13
  Ice hockey	13
  Tennis	11
  Alpine skiing	7

  (1998/99 NPHS)
  
  

Active commuting—walking and bicycling

• In the past year, 41% of Canadians walked to or from work or school, or to do errands. On average, those who walk to commute did so for 153 days and spent 40 minutes on each occasion.
  
  
• Just 13% of Canadians commuted by bicycle in the past year, and they did so an average of 57 days with each occasion lasting 36 minutes.

Stages of change: readiness to be active

• The adoption of physical activity, like other behaviours, may occur in stages, with people in different stages having different needs.
  
  
  • Currently, 39% of Canadians are in the maintenance stage, reporting that they have been active regularly over the previous 12 months.
    
    
  • Another 36% are in the action stage, having taken steps to become active and intending to be so in the next 12 months.
    
    
  • However, a sizeable proportion (17%) are in relapse, having been active at some point in the previous 12 months, but not currently active nor intending to be so in the future.
    
    
  • A further 5% are seriously contemplating taking some action to become more active, but are not active currently.
    
    
  • Among the remaining 2% who are not active, most are in the precontemplation stage having not been active in the past 12 months and not intending to be active in the future, with very few having dropped out of activity with no intention to resume.

Physical activity—barriers and benefits

• Barriers to being active—The opportunities, facilities, and programs offered in workplaces can only go so far to motivate employees to be active when they feel that there are circumstances, such as the following, stopping them from being active.
  
  
  • Two in five working Canadians say that constant tight deadlines at work are important (quite a bit or very important) in stopping them from being active.
    
    
  • Two in five state that lack of time due to work is an important barrier to their activity.
    
    
  • One-quarter say that the lack of pleasant places to walk, bicycle, or be active near work is important as a barrier to their activity.
    
    
  • One-third say that roads near work are too busy for safe walking or cycling and this is an important barrier in preventing them from being active.
    
    
• Beliefs about work-related benefits of physical activity—Canadian workers hold strong positive beliefs about the work-related benefits of physical activity. Roughly nine in ten believe that regular physical activity improves one’s ability to cope and reduces stress (88%), improves productivity (87%), helps one to recover more quickly from minor illnesses (85%), and be more effective on the job, for example by improving concentration (83%).
  
  
• Absenteeism—When asked how many days in the last year they have been on leave away from work because of sickness, injury, or disability, 16% of working Canadians reported six or more days, 41% said one to five days, and 42% reported that they had taken no sick days.
  
  
• Potential influence on recruitment and turnover—When asked how much the physical activity opportunities, programs, and facilities at work influenced their decision to accept a job working for their current employer, 89% of Canadians say that they were influenced somewhat or not at all. Six percent state they were moderately influenced and 5% indicate the level of influence to be quite a bit or a great deal.
  
  Furthermore, when asked how much such opportunities influence them to keep working for their current employer, 59% report somewhat or not at all, 18% state moderately, and 22% say quite a bit or a great deal.

Support for physical activity at work

• Fitness information at work—Access to fitness and physical activity information at work may contribute to a more active work force, even in the absence of programming.
  
  One-third of Canadians report a fitness or health bulletin board, newsletter or email at work.
  
  About one-quarter of Canadians state that their workplace provides information on where employees can be active in the community and how employees could be more active.
  
  About the same number report that seminars, workshops or training programs about physical activity and disease prevention are offered.
  
  
• Soft supports for activity—A variety of workplace features may be conducive to a healthy, physically active work force, even though they are "softer" than the provision of facilities or programs.
  
  For most Canadians, smoking has been totally banned from their workplaces, which promotes a healthy lifestyle. Almost half of workers have dress-down days or casual dress codes, which may encourage physical activity, 37% have flexible working hours and 24% have group discounts or subsidies for using local facilities like ski hills or fitness clubs.
  
  
• Amenities at work to support activity—Workplaces may provide support for physical activity among employees without necessarily providing facilities or programs.
  
  At their workplaces, 32% of Canadians have access to showers, 38% have access to change areas or locker rooms, and 36% have access to bicycle racks.
  
  
• Stair climbing at work—Stairways in public places can provide a convenient and effective way of adding physical activity to the work day.
  
  The majority of working Canadians (74%) state that their workplace has easily accessible stairs and 51% report that their workplace has signs indicating the location of stairs.
  
  However, only 14% of Canadians indicate that their workplace has signs encouraging people to take the stairs. (Actual use of the stairs was not determined.)
  
  
• Occasional opportunities at work—Employers may provide soft supports permitting their workers to be active off the job, and they may exhibit a positive attitude toward an active lifestyle, without necessarily providing much in the way of permanent facilities or routine programs. However, many workplaces provide, or at least allow, occasional opportunities for physical activity at work.
  
  Over half of working Canadians have access to recreational events like golf tournaments at work and 31% to team sports such as softball.
  
  One-quarter of workers can participate in physical activity events like Sneaker Day, but only 14% have opportunities in the form of clubs (e.g., ski clubs) and a mere 8% have short exercise breaks during work hours.
  
  
• Opportunities for physical activity near work—Over half of working Canadians report that there are pleasant places to walk or jog at or near their place of work.
  
  In addition, 45% report community recreation or other facilities for physical activity (e.g. YW/YMCA, fitness facilities).
  
  Additionally, 35% of Canadians work near playing fields or open spaces for ball games.
  
  
• Participation at work—Two in five working Canadians with access to group discounts or subsidies offered by their workplace for using local facilities like fitness clubs actually used these facilities during the past year.
  
  Of those with access to clubs, sports, or recreational events at work, roughly one-third reported participating in team sports, physical activity clubs, or physical activity events like Sneaker Day.
  
  One-quarter of Canadians participated in individualized or group fitness programs at work, where available.
  
  Working Canadians were also asked to indicate how often they used workplace fitness facilities, other rooms provided for physical activity, and exercise equipment like weights or stationary bicycles in the past year. Of those with access to such workplace fitness facilities, 19% use them at least once a week, 18% use them occasionally, and 56% have not used them within the past year.
  
  
• Fitness instruction or counselling at work—Just over one in ten (13%) working Canadians report that their workplace offers fitness testing (or subsidizes off-site testing) or physical activity counselling at work. Additionally, 11% state that their workplace offers instruction in building personal activity programs, and the same proportion (11%) report instruction in particular activities like swimming, tennis, and bicycling is available at work.
  
  
• Fitness facilities at work—Only a small proportion of working Canadians have access to fitness facilities at or through their place of work. Just 20% of Canadians have access to community facilities like schools and gyms through their workplace and only 17% have access to fitness facilities at work. Moreover, 15% have access to exercise equipment like weights or stationary bicycles at work, 13% have access to other rooms at work which can be used for physical activities, and 14% have other opportunities for physical activity or sport at work.
  
  
• Fitness programs at work—A small percentage of working Canadians have access to fitness programs at their place of work. This is similar to the proportion of working Canadians who have fitness facilities at work. Over one-quarter of working Canadians have programs to improve health, physical fitness, or nutrition at their workplace. However, only 10% have a group exercise program and a mere 7% have an individualized fitness program offered at work.
  
  
• Management of facilities and programs
  • 41% of working Canadians state that the employer or management has the responsibility of managing workplace facilities
  • 34% indicate that a designated staff person has the responsibility
    
  • 16% report that an employee group or association has the responsibility
    
  • 14% assert that some other person has the responsibility of managing these facilities.
    
    
• When fitness facilities can be used—When asked about the time available for usage, 88% of working Canadians indicate that the physical activity facilities at work can be used after work or in the evenings, 83% report availability before work, 79% state they can be used during lunch, 54% assert availability during work hours, and 64% say they can be used weekends. Actual use of these physical activity facilities was not measured.
  
  
• Who can access facilities?—More than four out of five working Canadians state that full-time and part-time employees can use the equipment, facilities, and programs available at work, whereas only half of contract workers may do so. Furthermore, one-third state that retired employees and employee family members can use these physical activity facilities at work. Only 30% indicate that other members of the community can use the physical activity facilities at work.
  
  When asked who pays for these physical activity facilities and programs at work, 46% of Canadians state that only the employer pays, whereas 27% report that a combination of employer and employee pay, and 15% assert that only the employees pay for these physical activity facilities.
  
  
• Employer attitude and support for physical activity—Working Canadians report very modest support from their employers to be physically active. Only 20% say their employer is very or extremely supportive, with most reporting moderate (18%) or little or no encouragement (61%). Of those reporting no support, 45% believe that employer encouragement would help them to be active. Of those having some support, 67% think that such support actually helps them to be active.
  
  
• Incentives and rewards for physical activity at work—One-quarter of working Canadians can organize or participate in a community physical activity event during work hours without pay deduction, but only 10% report workplace awards, recognition, or other types of motivation to encourage being active.
  

Survey info
The 2001 Physical Activity Monitor is the sixth wave of the Physical Activity Monitor and was conducted in the spring, summer and fall of 2001. It was designed to be completed through computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI). A total of 4,503 adults aged 18 and older constituted the final sample. No data were collected on children given that the focus of the survey was to identify factors at or near the workplace which could influence the physical activity patterns of Canadian workers.

For more info...
New findings from the 2001 Physical Activity Monitor were published monthly between June 3 and October 15, 2002. These monthly releases, related to workplace physical activity, were compiled to form a full report published on November 4, 2002. The report, which contains a discussion of the 2001 findings as well as detailed tables by age, sex, province, physical activity level, education level, family income, employment status, community size, and family composition, is available in PDF format.

You can download the report free of charge from our publication list