Manitoba

Physical activity profile

• As many as 61% of Manitobans are insufficiently active for optimal health benefits. (National Population Health Survey, 1998/99)
  
  
• Physical inactivity increased since the early 1990s, going from 58% in 1994 to 61% in 1998. (NPHS, 1998/99)
  
  
• The most popular physical activities for adults over 20 are:
  
  

  Walking for exercise	69%
  Gardening, yard work	48
  Home exercise	32
  Bicycling	27
  Social dancing	24
  Swimming	22
  Golf	11
  Weight training	11
  Jogging, running	11
  Fishing	10
  Bowling	9
  Baseball, softball	6
  Exercise classes, aerobics	5
  In-line skating	5

  (NPHS, 1998/99)

What about youth?

• In Manitoba, 55% of youth aged 12-19 are not active enough for optimal growth and development. 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). 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. (1998/99 NPHS)
  
  
• The popular physical activities for youth, according to the 1998/99 NPHS, are:
  
  

  Walking for exercise	74%
  Bicycling	51
  Swimming	49
  Jogging, running	46
  Social dancing	41
  Home exercise	38
  Volleyball	36

  (1998/99 NPHS)
  

Active commuting—walking and bicycling

• In the past year, 43% of Manitobans walked to or from work or school, or to do errands. On average, those who walk to commute did so for 174 days and spent 37 minutes on each occasion.
  
  
• Just 13% of Manitobans commuted by bicycle in the past year, and they did so an average of 49 days with each occasion lasting 27 minutes.

Stages of change: readiness to be active

• Adoption of a physically active lifestyle occurs in stages and involves progression and regression. On average, 40% of Manitoba adult workers are in the MAINTENANCE stage, and 40% are in the ACTION stage. They have taken steps to become active in the last 12 months, and they intend to stay active.

Physical activity—barriers and benefits

• Barriers to being active—Constant tight deadlines (33%), lack of time due to work (36%), and roads that are too busy (24%) are preventing Manitobans from being physically active.
  
  
• Beliefs about work-related benefits of physical activity—Adult workers in Manitoba believe that regular physical activity improves one’s ability to cope and reduce stress (95%), to improve productivity (91%), to help one to recover more quickly from minor illnesses (88%), and to be more effective on the job, for example by improving concentration (85%).
  
  
• Absenteeism—When asked how many days in the last year they have been on leave away from work because of sickness, injury, or disability, 46% of Manitoba workers said one to five days, and 37% reported that they had taken no sick days.
  
  
• Potential influence on recruitment and turnover—88% of working Manitobans say that physical activity opportunities, programs, and facilities at work influenced somewhat or not at all their decision to accept a job working for their current employer.
  
  When asked how much such opportunities influence them to keep working for their current employer, 66% report somewhat or not at all.

Support for physical activity at work

• Fitness information at work
  • 28% of Manitoba workers obtain at work information on physical activity through a fitness or health bulletin board, a newsletter or email.
    
    
  • 32% report that information on where employees can be active is available at their place of work and 32% report that information on how employees could be more active is also available.
    
    
  • 30% report that seminars, workshops or training programs about physical activity and disease prevention are offered at work.
    
    
• Soft supports for activity—For 67% of Manitoba workers, smoking has been totally banned from the workplace, which promotes a healthy lifestyle. In addition, 43% have dress-down days or casual dress codes, which may encourage physical activity, and 32% have flexible working hours.
  
  
• Amenities at work to support activity—35% of Manitoba workers have access to showers, 49% have access to change areas or locker rooms, and 52% have access to bicycle racks.
  
  Manitobans are more likely than Canadians overall to report access to bicycle racks.
  
  
• Stair climbing at work—The majority of Manitoba workers (76%) state that their workplace has easily accessible stairs and 51% report that their workplace has signs indicating the location of stairs.
  
  
• Occasional opportunities at work—54% of Manitoba workers have access to recreational events like golf tournaments at work and 34% have access to team sports such as softball.
  
  
• Opportunities for physical activity near work—Over half (61%) of Manitoba workers report that there are pleasant places to walk or jog at or near their place of work and 47% report community recreation or other facilities for physical activity (e.g., YW/YMCA, fitness facilities). Additionally, 41% work near playing fields and 40% work near open spaces for ball games.
  
  
• Fitness facilities at work
  
  • 28% of Manitobans have access to fitness facilities at work.
    
    
• Fitness programs at work
  
  • 33% of working Manitobans have programs to improve health, physical fitness, or nutrition at their workplace.
    
    
• When fitness facilities can be used
  
  • 96% of working Manitobans indicate that the physical activity facilities at work can be used after work or in the evenings,
    
  • 88% report availability before work,
    
  • 88% state they can be used during lunch.
    Actual use of these physical activity facilities was not measured.
    
    
• Who can access facilities?
  • 94% of working Manitobans state that full-time employees can use the equipment, facilities, and programs available at work;
    
  • 85% state that part-time employees can use these facilities.
    
    
• Employer attitude and support for physical activity—Only 27% of Manitobans say their employer is very or extremely supportive, with most reporting that their employer provides little or no encouragement (55%). Of those having some support, 67% think that such support actually helps them to be active.

• The Institute gratefully acknowledges the financial support of Health Canada and the Interprovincial Sport and Recreation Council toward the Benchmarks Program. Our Manitoba partner is the Department of Culture, Heritage and Tourism, Recreation and Wellness Promotion Branch.