Trends in Adult Physical Activity - Canada, 1994 to 2005

The Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute has prepared an analysis of trends in adult physical activity based on Statistics Canada's Canadian Community Health Surveys and earlier National Population Health Surveys.  Activity is defined as a daily energy expenditure of 1.5 kilocalories/kilogram of body weight/day - roughly equivalent to walking one half hour every day or more.  In general the trend is positive with increasing percentages of Canadian adults meeting this minimum requirement.

Trends in Adult Physical Activity - 1994 to 2005

% adults (20+) meeting minimum requirement (see above)

	1994	1996	1998	2000	2002	2005
Canada	38%	40%	45%	44%	49%	49%
Newfoundland	31	34	39	36	42	42
Prince Edward Island	30	29	38	39	41	40
Nova Scotia	32	37	43	42	45	46
New Brunsick	35	32	37	37	43	44
Quebec	33	36	41	39	45	46
Ontario	38	41	45	43	48	50
Manitoba	42	37	39	41	48	46
Saskatchewan	39	35	41	43	47	47
Alberta	45	46	50	48	53	52
British Columbia	49	47	53	55	58	57
North (Yukon, NWT, Nun)	n/a	n/a	n/a	49	50	49

Source: http://www.cflri.ca/eng/levels/trends.php

In general, men are more likely to be active than women and activity levels decrease with age. See table below which looks at the period from 1994 to 2002.

Trends in Physical Activity - by age and gender

	1994	1996	1998	2000	2002
Total Adults	38%	40%	45%	44%	49%
women	35	38	41	41	46
men	42	42	48	47	52
Total age 20-24	48	51	57	54	60
women	43	48	54	49	54
men	53	54	60	59	65
Total age 25-44	38	41	45	44	50
women	35	40	41	42	48
men	42	42	48	46	53
Total age 45-64	38	39	44	42	48
women	37	38	43	41	47
men	38	40	45	44	48
Total 65+	35	34	38	38	41
women	30	29	33	32	35
men	42	41	45	47	50

Source: http://www.cflri.ca/eng/statistics/surveys/pam2004.php