CANADA

Leisure time and physical activity

• 49% of adult Canadians (20+ years) report having sufficient leisure time to be classified as being at least moderately active (>= 1.5 MET-hours/day).
• Of these, roughly one-fourth are considered either active (>= 3.0 MET-hours) or moderately active (1.5-2.9 MET hours).
• No significant changes were found in the proportion of adults who are at least moderately active since 2003.
• Similar to past years, an increase was observed in the percentage of Canadians from the Atlantic and Western regions, who report being at least moderately active (>= 1.5 MET-hours/day).
• No difference in the proportions was found between men and women ages 25-64 years who report being moderately active, though a difference was observed in the young (<25 years) and older (>= 65 years) age groups with more men being at least moderately active compared to women.
• The proportion of Canadians who are at least moderately active decreases in the 20s but remains constant throughout middle age. Women, however, are less likely to be moderately active through older age as compared to men.
• The likelihood of being at least moderately active increases with education and household income level.
• Adults with healthy BMI’s are more likely to report being moderately active than individuals classified as obese.
• About half (49%) of Canadian teens (12-19 years) report having enough daily-leisure time physical activity to be classified as active (>= 3.0 MET-hours/day).
• Less than one-fourth (22%) of teens report being at least moderately active (1.5-2.9 MET-hours/day); while 29% report activity levels that would classify them as inactive (< 1.5 MET-hours/day).
• A significant decrease in the percentage of teens (only 22%) who report being active is observed when applying a more stringent definition for active youth (6.0 MET-hours/day).
• No significant change was found in the proportion of teens who report being active since 2003.

Body Mass Index

• Less than half (47%) of adult Canadians are considered to have a body mass that falls with the healthy range.
• 35% are overweight, and 16% are obese.
• Women are more likely than men across all age groups to report having a healthy BMI, and are less likely to report being overweight.
• The likelihood of being overweight or obese decreases with a higher level of education. With respect to income, the likelihood of being overweight increases with increasing income level.
• Individuals who report participating in physical activity during leisure time are more likely to have a healthy weight than those who do not.

Self-assessment of weight status

• Most Canadians (73%) are able to accurately assess their weight status when asked to classify themselves as overweight, underweight or normal.
• 19% of Canadians underestimate their status, while 9% overestimate their status.
• Overall, men are more likely than women, across all age groups, to underestimate their weight status.
• Older women (65+ years) are more likely to underestimate their weight as compared to younger women.
• Individuals with less than high school education are more likely to underestimate their weight status.
• 6% of adults with a healthy weight status and 10% of obese adults underestimate their weights; compared to 41% of overweight adults who underestimate their weights.
• Two-thirds (64%) of underweight adults (BMI <18.5) overestimate their weight status.

Perceptions of health status

• 29% of Canadians report that their overall health is ‘good’, and more than half report that their overall health is ‘very good’.
• 12% report their overall health as being either ‘fair’ or ‘poor’.
• Most Canadians (70%) claim that their health status has remained unchanged over the past year.
• Individuals who report their health status as either ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ are more likely than those who report their health as being ‘fair’ or ‘poor’ to claim their health status has remained unchanged.
• Age and BMI are inversely related to the likelihood of reporting ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ health.
• Education, income and physical activity levels are positively correlated with reporting ‘very good’ or excellent health.

Mental Health

• 75% of Canadians report having ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ mental health.
• 21% report ‘good’ mental health
• 5% state that their mental health is either ‘fair’ or ‘poor’.
• Older men and women are less likely to report ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ health.
• Individuals with a higher level of education, income and physical activity during leisure time are more likely to report having ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ mental health.
• Obese and/or overweight adults are less likely to report having ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ mental health.

Daily stress

• 23% of adult Canadians report their days are regularly ‘quite’ or ‘extremely’ stressful.
• 36% state that their days are either ‘not very’ or ‘not at all’ stressful.
• 42% indicate that their days are ‘a bit’ stressful.
• Women are more likely than men to report that their days are ‘quite’ or ‘extremely’ stressful.
• Adults aged 25-64 years are more likely than older adults to report having ‘quite’ or extremely’ stressful days.
• Younger women (15-24 years) are more likely than men in the same age group to report having ‘quite’ or ‘extremely’ stressful days.
• Reporting ‘highly’ stressful days increases with increasing education level.
• Reporting ‘highly’ stressful days is highest among individuals in the lowest (< $15, 000) and highest (> $80, 000) income brackets.

Chronic diseases

• 8% of adult Canadians (45 + years) report having been diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes.
• Rates of self-reported Type-2 diabetes are higher among older adults (65+ years)
• Men aged 45 years or older are more likely than women of the same age to report having Type-2 diabetes.
• Adults with less than a secondary education are more likely to report being diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes.
• The likelihood of being diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes is directly correlated with BMI class.
• Adults who at least moderately active are less likely to report being diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes than those who are not.
• 30 % of adult Canadians (45+ years) report being diagnosed with high blood pressure (HBP).
• 10% of adults report being diagnosed with heart disease (HD).
• The likelihood of both HBP and HD increases with increasing age.
• Men over 50 years of age are more likely than women in the same age group to report having been diagnosed with HD; while the reverse is true for HBP in women and men over 70 years.
• The rates of HBP and HD decrease with increasing income household.
• HBP and HD are more common among individuals with less than a high school education.
• Rates of HBP and HD are lowest among individuals with health weights and highest among those who are obese.

Attitudes about Physical Activity

• 92% of Canadians indicate that physical activity is pleasant compared to 6% who say it is unpleasant.
• 82% report it as fun or comfortable compared to 12% who say it is boring, and 13% who say it is painful.
• 77% say that it is convenient compared to 20% who say that it is inconvenient;
• and 67% find it easy compared to 21% who report it as being difficult.
• Compared to 2003, more Canadians view physical activity as convenient and less view it as difficult in 2007.

Beliefs associated with the benefits of physical activity

• Most Canadian adults have a positive belief regarding the potential benefits of physical activity.
• 76% believe that physical activity helps to prevent heart disease.
• 69% believe that it reduces stress;
• 66% believe that it facilitate tasks in older age.
• Women are more likely than men to hold strong beliefs about the potential benefits of physical activity.
• Young (aged 18-24 years) and older (65 + years) adults are more likely to strongly agree that physical activity prevents heart disease.
• Young adults are less likely than 25 to 64 year olds to strongly agree that physical activity facilitates performing tasks in old age.
• Canadians with less than a secondary education are least likely to indicate that they strongly agree that physical activity prevents heart disease and reduces stress.
• Adults with higher education and household income levels are more likely to strongly agree that physical activity prevents heart disease and reduces stress.
• Students are less likely than full-time workers to strongly agree that physical activity reduces stress.
• Canadians who have never married are less likely to have strong positive beliefs about physical activity compared to those who are married, separated or widowed.
• Active Canadians are more likely than inactive individuals to hold positive beliefs about physical activity.
• Canadians were more likely in 2007 than in 1997 to agree that physical activity reduces stress and helps maintain function ability with age. No difference was found in 2007 compared to 1997 with respect to beliefs that regular physical activity reduces the risk of heart disease.

Intentions to be active

• 50% of Canadians fully intend on being active;
• 45% strongly or moderately intend on being active;
• and 5% have little or no intention of being active.
• Canadians with less than a secondary education are more likely than those with a university education to have little or no intention on being active.
• Active Canadians are more likely than those who are less active to fully intend to be more active.

Personal control over choice to be active

• 39% of Canadians feel they have complete control over their choice to be active.
• 27% feel they have a lot or moderate control;
• and 8% feel they have little or no control.
• Women are more likely than men to state that they have little or no personal control with respect to fitting physical activity into their daily routines.
• Individuals with low household incomes are more likely to report having little or no control over fitting regular physical activity into daily life.
• Canadians in 2007 are slightly less likely to indicate they have little or no control over their choice to be active compared to 2002.

Awareness of Canada’s Physical Activity Guide

• 27% of Canadians report having heard of Canada’s Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Activity living when prompted.
• Older men (65+ years) are more likely to have heard of the Guide
  Confidence in ability to follow the Guide.
• 52% of Canadians report being very confident in their ability to achieve 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week.
• 49% are very confident that they can accumulate 60 minutes of light physical activity every day.
• Men are more likely than women to report a high level of confidence in their ability to achieve both guidelines.
• Higher levels of education and household income are associated with greater confidence in ability to meet both guidelines.
• Active Canadians are more likely than inactive to have confidence in their ability to meet both guidelines.

Social Norms and Walking

• 27% of Canadians walk the equivalent of at least four occasions per week.
• 34% accumulate the equivalent of at least two hours per week.
• 58% agree or strongly agree that their family members walk regularly
• 44% agree or strongly agree to some extent that their friends walk regularly
• 42% agree or strongly agree that most people they know walk regularly
• Women are more likely than men to report walking sufficient amounts to meet both criteria outlined in the Guide.

Barriers to Physical Activity

• 34% of Canadians consider lack of time as a very important barrier preventing them from being active.
• 38% consider this to be somewhat important
• 27% consider this to be not very or not at all important
• Men and women are equally likely to rate lack of time as a barrier
• The rating of time as an important barrier generally increases with increasing education and income levels.
• 14% of Canadians cite cost as being a very important barrier compared to 27% and 59% who cite it as being somewhat important and not very or not at all important, respectively.
• Women are more likely than men to cite cost as being a very important barrier.
• Inactive adults are more likely than active to cite cost as a very important barrier.

Long-term illness or disability and fear of injury

• More than one-third of Canadians (37%) report a long term illness, injury or disability as a very important barrier preventing them from being more active.
• 13% of Canadians report fear of injury as a barrier whereas 67% say it is not very or not at all important.
• Older adults (65+ years) are more likely to cite long-term illness or disability and fear of injury as a very important barrier to participating in physical activity.
• Adults with higher levels of education and income are less likely to cite both barriers as very important.
• Inactive adults are more likely to report both as being very important barriers.

Lack of energy or feeling too tired

• Almost half of Canadians (43%) cite lack of energy or being too tired as somewhat important barriers to participation in physical activity. With women more likely than men to cite this as an important barrier.
• 21% of Canadians state that this is a very important barrier, compared to 36% who say that this is not very or not at all important.

Lack of interest or motivation

• More than half of Canadians (62%) cite lack of interest or motivation as an important barrier to participating in physical activity.
• Individuals who are widowed, separated or divorced are more likely to cite lack of interest or motivation as being an important barrier.

Lack of skill and feeling uncomfortable

• Although most Canadians do not consider lack of skill and feeling uncomfortable (66% and 60% respectively) as being important, more than one in ten cite this as being a very important barrier.
• Women are more likely to rate lack of skill as an important barrier; no gender differences were found with respect to ratings for feelings of discomfort as a barrier.
• The least active adults are most likely to rate a lack of skill and feeling uncomfortable as very important barriers.

Supportive Services

• More than half of Canadians (52%) indicate that affordable facilities and programs are important support services.
• 39% of adults indicate that inexpensive child care and parking are important
• 30% consider convenient public transportation important
• Over one-fourth consider services such as networking or the buddy system, specific instruction or coaching as important.
• Women are more likely than men to report each of the noted services as important in helping them to be active.

Information outreach for increasing physical activity

• Roughly one-third of Canadians indicate that assistance in planning their daily schedules to include physical activity or professional help in choosing appropriate activities, would make being physical activity increasingly feasible.
• 39% of Canadians indicate that information on physical activity, health and well-being is very important in encouraging them to be active.
• Women are more likely than men to report that professional help in choosing appropriate activities is important in enabling them to be more active. This gender difference, however, only appears among individuals aged 25-64.
• Older women (45-64 years) are more likely than men from the same age group to state the importance of information on physical activity, health and well-being or help in planning their daily schedules to include physical activity in helping them being more active.
• Adults with a university education are least likely to cite professional help in choosing activities as important for assisting them to be active. They are also less likely than those with less than a secondary level education to indicate the importance of receiving information on physical activity, health and well-being.
• Individuals with the lowest annual incomes (< $20, 000) are more likely to assign a high degree of importance on information on physical activity, health and well-being and to professional help in choosing appropriate activities.
• Those who are widowed, divorced or separated, separated or divorced are more likely than those currently living with a partner to state the importance of information on physical activity, health and well-being.
• No significant different was found in relation to physical activity level and the three types of informational outreach.
• There has been no change overall to the proportion of Canadians to who attribute the importance of these types of informational outreach activities

Environments supporting physical activity

• Most Canadians (72%) live in neighbourhoods comprised of detached single homes, whereas 9% live in neighbourhoods comprised of row houses, town houses, or low rise apartments/condos; while16% live in neighbourhoods with a mix of these two.
• A small proportion of the population (< 5%) live in neighbourhoods comprised primarily of medium or high-rise apartments/condos.
• The vast majority of Canadians (74%) agree that their neighbourhood includes several free or low cost recreation facilities such as parks, walking trails, bike paths, recreation centres, playgrounds, and public swimming pools.
• Well over half of Canadians agree that sidewalks exist on most streets in their neighbourhoods and that they live within walking distance (10-15 minutes) to a transit stop (ex.: for a bus, train, trolley or tram).
• 58% of Canadians indicate that they live within walking distance of shops, stores, and markets.
• 61% indicate that their neighbourhoods include bicycle facilities, such as designated lanes, paths or trails or shared use paths for both bicycles and pedestrians.
• More than three quarters of Canadians disagree that the crime rate or traffic in their neighbourhood makes walking at night unsafe or unpleasant.
• Women, older adults (65+ years), those with lower education and income levels, widowed, divorced or separated, and those unemployed or retired, are more likely to be concern about crime.
• Overall, women are more likely than men to report that both access to safe streets and other public places such as paths, trails, and green spaces would be important factors in encouraging physical activity.
• There are no significant differences by education, employment, marital status, or community size in reporting the importance of supportive community infrastructure.
• Individuals who are active are more likely than those who are somewhat active to state the importance of supportive community infrastructure.
• Since 2004, there has been a decrease in the proportion of Canadians who report having shops within walking distance, free or low cost neighbourhood facilities, and crime and traffic issues in their neighbourhood.

Attempts to become more active

• 61% of Canadians have sought out information (ex.: books, newspapers or magazines) about physical activity with the intent of being more active.
• 45% seek advice from friends, family or co-workers;
• 38% seek information about opportunities in their communities (ex.: trails);
• and 29% seek advice from a health professional
• A majority of Canadians report the following actions as ways of increasing their physical activity:
1. Making active choices in their daily routines, such as walking to work or taking the stairs (70%).
2. Observing a class of trying some form of physical activity.
• Women are more likely than men to report making active choices in their daily routines and to seek out advice with a view to becoming more active.
• With the exception of seeking information from a health professional, those with higher education and household income levels are more likely to report initiating ‘first step’ behaviours (i.e.: making active choices in their daily routine, observing a class or trying some form of physical activity)
• Retired individuals are more likely than unemployed or full-time workers to report having read articles on physical activity, but are less likely to seek advice from family, friends or co-workers; and are less likely to incorporate active choices in their daily routines.
• With the exception of seeking information from a health professional, sedentary Canadians are less likely than active Canadians to report initiating all first step behaviours.