| New Brunswick
Physical activity profile
- As many as 63% of New Brunswickers are insufficiently active
for optimal health benefits. (National Population Health Survey,
1998/99)
- Physical inactivity declined significantly since the early
1990s, going from 65% in 1994 to 63% in 1998. (NPHS, 1998/99)
- The most popular physical activities for adults over 20
are:
| Walking for exercise |
70% |
| Gardening, yard work |
48 |
| Home exercise |
26 |
| Social dancing |
24 |
| Bicycling |
17 |
| Swimming |
16 |
| Bowling |
12 |
| Jogging, running |
10 |
| Fishing |
9 |
| Weight training |
8 |
| Golf |
5 |
| Baseball, softball |
5 |
| Skating |
4 |
| Exercise classes, aerobics |
4 |
(NPHS, 1998/99)
What about youth?
- In New Brunswick, 68% 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 |
67% |
| Bicycling |
52 |
| Jogging, running |
49 |
| Swimming |
43 |
| Social dancing |
42 |
| Gardening, yard work |
40 |
| Home exercise |
32 |
(1998/99 NPHS)
Active commuting—walking and bicycling
- In the past year, 35% of New Brunswickers walked
to or from work or school, or to do errands. On average, those
who walk to commute did so for 130 days and spent 43 minutes
on each occasion.
- Just 8% of New Brunswickers commuted by bicycle
in the past year, and they did so an average of 33 days with
each occasion lasting 41 minutes.
Stages of change: readiness to be active
- Adoption of a physically active lifestyle occurs in stages
and involves progression and regression. On average, 34% of
New Brunswick 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. The third group
(17%) are in RELAPSE. They were active at some point in the last
12 months but are no longer active.
Physical activity—barriers and benefits
- Barriers to being active—Constant
tight deadlines (29%), lack of time due to work (40%), lack
of pleasant places to walk and/or bicycle (23%), and roads
that are too busy (27%) are preventing New Brunswickers from
being physically active.
- Beliefs about work-related benefits
of physical activity—New Brunswick adult workers believe
that regular physical activity improves one’s ability to cope
and reduce stress (89%), to improve productivity (90%), to
help one to recover more quickly from minor illnesses (86%),
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, 19% of working
New Brunswickers reported six or more days, 36% said one to
five days, and 44% reported that they had taken no sick days.
- Potential influence on recruitment
and turnover—86% of working New Brunswickers 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, 58% report somewhat or
not at all, 19% state moderately, and 23% say quite a bit
or a great deal.
Support for physical activity at work
- Fitness information at work
- 32% of New Brunswick workers obtain at work information
on physical activity through a fitness or health bulletin
board, a newsletter or email.
- 29% report that information on where employees can be
active is available at their place of work and 29% report
that information on how employees could be more active
is also available.
- 25% report that seminars, workshops or training programs
about physical activity and disease prevention are offered
at work.
- Soft supports for activity—For
57% of New Brunswick workers, smoking has been totally banned
from the workplace, which promotes a healthy lifestyle. In
addition, 50% have dress-down days or casual dress codes,
which may encourage physical activity, 36% have flexible working
hours, and 23% have group discounts or subsidies for using
local facilities like ski hills or fitness clubs.
Residents in New Brunswick are less likely than Canadians
overall to have a smoking ban.
- Amenities at work to support activity—27%
of New Brunswick workers have access to showers, 32% have
access to change areas or locker rooms, and 30% have access
to bicycle racks.
- Stair climbing at work—The majority
of New Brunswick 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—39%
of New Brunswick workers have access to recreational events
like golf tournaments at work and 33% have access to team
sports such as softball. In addition, 23% can participate
in physical activity events like Sneaker Day, but only 14%
have opportunities in the form of clubs (e.g., ski clubs).
Residents of New Brunswick are less likely than Canadians
overall to have access to recreational events at work.
- Opportunities for physical activity
near work—Over half (56%) of New Brunswick workers
report that there are pleasant places to walk or jog at or
near their place of work and 46% report community recreation
or other facilities for physical activity (e.g., YW/YMCA,
fitness facilities). Additionally, 37% work near playing fields
and 29% work near open spaces for ball games.
- Participation at work—Among
New Brunswick workers with access to clubs, sports, or recreational
events at work, 43% reported participating in team sports,
physical activity clubs, or physical activity events like
Sneaker Day.
Of those having access to workplace fitness facilities or
rooms for physical activity, and exercise equipment like weights
or stationary bicycles, 59% reported never having used them
in the past year.
- Fitness instruction or counselling
at work—13% of working New Brunswickers report that
their workplace offers fitness testing or physical activity
counselling.
- Fitness facilities at work
- 27% of New Brunswickers have access to community facilities
like schools and gyms through their workplace,
- 17% have access to fitness facilities at work,
- 15% have access to exercise equipment like weights or
stationary bicycles at work,
- 15% have access to other rooms at work which can be
used for physical activities,
- 15% have other opportunities for physical activity or
sport at work.
- Fitness programs at work
- 26% of working New Brunswickers have programs to improve
health, physical fitness, or nutrition at their workplace,
- 12% have a group exercise program.
- When fitness facilities can be used
- 87% of working New Brunswickers indicate that the physical
activity facilities at work can be used before work,
- 83% state they can be used during lunch,
- 56% report availability during work hours,
- 69% say they can be used weekends.
Actual use of these physical activity facilities was not
measured.
- Who can access facilities?
- 86% of working New Brunswickers state that full-time
employees can use the equipment, facilities, and programs
available at work;
- 78% state that part-time employees can use these facilities.
- Employer attitude and support for physical
activity—Only 20% of New Brunswickers say their employer
is very or extremely supportive, with most reporting that
their employer provides little or no encouragement (59%).
Of those reporting no support, 50% believe that employer encouragement
would help them to be active. Of those having some support,
73% think that such support actually helps them to be active.
- Incentives and rewards for physical
activity at work—30% of working New Brunswickers can
organize or participate in a community physical activity event
during work hours without pay deduction, but very few report
workplace awards, recognition, or other types of motivation
to encourage being active.
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