CANADA

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Body Mass index

• 3% of Canadians are considered underweight;
• 47% are considered to have a body mass within the healthy range;
• 35% are considered overweight and;
• 16% are considered obese.

Overall health status and chronic conditions

• The majority of Canadians report that they are in at least good health: 22% of Canadian adults rate their health as excellent, 37% state it is very good, and 29% say it is good.
• 28% of Canadians report that they do not have any chronic conditions.

Life satisfaction and self reported mental health

• The majority of Canadians are satisfied with their lives: 39% state that they are very satisfied, while an additional 53% say they are satisfied.
• The majority of the Canadian population reports good mental health: 38% say that it is excellent, 37% state that it is very good, and 21% state that it is good.

General stress

• The majority of Canadians experience some degree of stress in their daily lives: 41% state that most days are a bit stressful, 19% state that they are quite a bit stressful while 4% report that they are extremely stressful.

Work related stress

• Of Canadians who worked during the 12 months previous to the survey, 42% report that most days at work are a bit stressful, 25% report they are quite stressful and 6% report they are extremely stressful.

Barriers to being active

• More than one-third (36%) of working Canadians report that constant tight deadlines at work are an important barrier impeding their physical activity, and 42% report that lack of time due to work is an important barrier.
• One quarter (25%) of working Canadians indicate that the lack of pleasant places to walk, bicycle, or be active near their workplace is an important barrier, and a similar number (29%) indicate that the roads near their workplace being too busy to walk or bicycle safely poses an important barrier.

Potential influence on recruitment and turnover

• When asked the extent to which the physical activity opportunities, programs, and facilities offered by their workplace actually influenced their decision to accept a position with their current employer, the majority (84%) of Canadians indicate that they were only somewhat influenced or not influenced at all.
• Canadians aged 45 to 64 are more likely than those aged 18 to 24 to report that the physical activity options offered by their employer have not or have only somewhat influenced their decision to accept a position.

Beliefs about work-related benefits of physical activity

• 91% of working Canadians strongly agree that regular physical activity helps people to cope with and reduce their workplace stress.

Absenteeism

• 43% of Canadian employees report having missed no days of work.
• 39% report having missed one to five days.

Workplace injury, illness, and stress

• 21% report suffering from stress or some other mental or emotional condition because of work.
• 89% strongly agree physical activity helps in recovering from minor illnesses more quickly .

Employer attitude and support for physical activity

• The majority of working Canadians (54%) report that their employers are only somewhat supportive or are not supportive at all of physical activity.
• Roughly three-quarter of employees (72%) who already receive support from their employer, believe that such support does encourage them to be more active.

Support for physical activity at work

• 34% say that they are permitted to participate in community physical activity events during work hours without a loss of pay.

Fitness information at work

• 33% indicate that bulletin boards or newsletters to post fitness and health information are available.
• 31% report that information on how to become more active is available.
• 28% say that their employer provides information on where to be active locally.
• 27% indicate that physical activity seminars or workshops are offered.

Soft supports for activity

• 46% report having dress-down days or casual dress codes at work.
• 40% report having flexible working hours.
• 26% say their workplaces provide group discounts for local physical activity facilities. However, only 35% of these individuals indicate that they actually use these discounts (equivalent to roughly 9% of the working population).
• 12% report that rewards or other recognition for their physical activity achievements are offered.

Stair climbing at work

• The majority (76%) of employed Canadians report that there are easily accessible stairs at their workplaces.
• Residents of larger communities (with more than 5,000 residents) are more likely than those living in small communities (with 1,000 to 4,999 residents) to report easily accessible stairs and signage indicating the location of stairs at their workplaces.

Occasional opportunities at work

• Nearly half (48%) of all working Canadians indicate the availability of recreational events such as golf tournaments or ski trips through work, while about one third (30%) report that team sports are available at work.
• Men are also more likely than women to report actually participating in the sport clubs and related events offered at work.

Opportunities for physical activity near work

• 55% of employed Canadians report having pleasant places to walk or jog near work.
• Employees aged 25 to 44 are more likely than those aged 18 to 24 to report having pleasant places to walk or jog near work, as well as playing fields or open spaces at or near work.

Fitness facilities at work

• Roughly one fifth of employed Canadians report having direct access to fitness facilities at work (18%).
• Government and other public sector employees are more likely than those in the private sector to report having fitness facilities, other rooms suitable for physical activity, and exercise equipment at work.

Amenities at work to support activity

• 32% of employed Canadians report having access to showers at work.
• University-educated employees are more likely than those with less than a secondary level of education to report having showers and change areas or locker rooms available at work.

Fitness programs at work

• 28% of working Canadians report having programs to improve health, physical fitness, or nutrition at work.
• Employees residing in the largest communities are more likely than those in slightly smaller communities (with 75,000 to 299,999 residents) to have group exercise programs.

Fitness instruction or counselling at work

• 14% of working Canadians indicate that their employers offer fitness testing or physical activity counselling.

Management of facilities and programs

• 44% working Canadians report that this is an employer or management responsibility at their workplace.
• Employees working for the government or public sector are more likely than those in the private sector to report that it is the responsibility of designated staff to manage their workplace fitness opportunities.

Who can access facilities?

• The vast majority (91%) of working Canadians indicate that their workplaces allow full-time employees to access these opportunities.
• 35% report that employee family members may make use of the workplace fitness opportunities.
• 51% of Canadian employees report that only their employers.

When fitness facilities can be used

• 82% of Canadian employees with such opportunities report having access after work or in the evenings, while similar proportions report being allowed access during lunch (82%) or before work (75%)