Canadian Adults Get an F When It Comes to Weekly Physical Activity

We know that physical activity is crucial to our health. How come we can’t seem to make the time to fit in the bare minimum?

Photo by Mackenzie Gaultier Photography

Think you’re too old to receive a failing grade? Well, think again, because Canadian adults just receive an alarming F on Participaction’s first-ever report card for adults.

Participation is a non-profit organization that usually ranks children’s fitness levels and how healthy the average Canadian is. They recently just released their first report for adults.

When you dive into the report, the statistics are quite startling. The report found that only 16 percent of Canadians between the ages of 18 and 79 were reaching the recommended activity levels of 150 minutes a week.

ONLY 16 PERCENT!

Luckily, our grade for daily movement is a bit higher. Participaction gave Canadian’s a C grade for that category. That grade means over half of Canadians between 18 and 79 years of age are taking at least 7,500 steps each day.

So, there’s hope to boost that failing grade of vigorous activity…

What’s causing the decline in our physical activity levels? Research from Participaction often finds our work and family obligations to conflict with squeezing in physical activity. We live such busy lives, that finding time to fit in a quick workout seems next to impossible.

Next time you’re at work, make a note of how many hours you’re sitting at a desk (*cough* as I write this sitting at my desk at home…). Add that to the hours you spend relaxing on the couch after a long day of work, sitting down for supper or at your kid’s hockey game; the average Canadian will often spend more time sitting than moving around.

Not only that, but the change in our world that keeps everything at our fingertips is also a factor. Think of grocery shopping even. Although walking around the grocery store won’t be vigorous activity (unless you’re on a mission, maybe), it will keep you active. Instead, now we can shop from our computer, drive up to the store and have someone else load our vehicle.

We’ve spent so much time lately worrying about our children’s physical activity levels that we’ve forgotten to pay attention to our own.

Okay, But What’s the Big Deal?

The lack of vigorous exercise we get is a huge deal that is raising red flags for researchers and medical professionals.

Since 2012, inactivity has cost Canada billions of dollars’ worth of health-care. The direct cost is estimated at $2.4 billion, while the indirect cost sits at $4.3 billion, and the total health-care costs of inactivity are around $6.8 billion.

If we could get even a fraction of Canadians to increase their activity levels to the recommended amount of 150 minutes a week, the Canadian economy could see a boost in the billions due to a decrease in health-care spending (over the course of a few decades).

Not only will increase activity levels possibly improve the economy (which results in a more affordable life for Canadians in the end), but there are proven health benefits when you stay moving.

The Risks of Inactivity

Let’s take this to a more personal level. How does an inactive lifestyle affect you? To start, physical inactivity makes it quite challenging to maintain a good weight in a healthy way. Adding exercise to a regular diet will help keep you at your weight goal without having to do extreme diets that could actually do more harm than good.

Lack of physical exercise can also put you at a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases, developing high blood pressure, reduce your stability levels, which can increase your risk of falls as you age, and even interfere with your mental health (leading to feelings of depression and anxiety).

Stay Healthy Long-Term, Increase Your Physical Activity

Performing a healthy amount of physical activity (it’s possible to go overboard and reverse the benefits), will not only help you right now, but for the long-term as well. As we age, our bodies go through a natural change that can put us at risk for slips, falls and cardiovascular issues.

Three common changes that happen as you age include:

• Slow reaction time

• Decreased muscle and bone strength (often leading to osteoporosis)

• Reduced balance

Physical activity that also includes strength training helps build up the muscle to keep you balanced and focused. Core strength plays a significant role for stability and balance, and is often easily lost due to inactivity.

Research has also shown that physical activity can slow down the progress of dementia and even protect you from the onset of dementia in the first place. Regular exercise is proven to help your brain, both directly and indirectly. Exercise often reduces inflammation and insulin resistance while stimulating growth chemicals in the brain. So, your physical workout is also working your brain!

Are you ready to incorporate more physical exercise into your weekly routine? One of the most common reasons I hear from people as to why they don’t exercise enough is the lack of time in the day. When you put physical exercise into this perspective, isn’t it worth making time throughout your week to get in a quick workout?

It’s important to note that the exercise we’re talking about is more vigorous, meaning it increases your heart rate (something that will get you huffing and puffing for a bit). Cardio training is only part of the picture. You also need strength training and stretching for a healthy, overall workout.

Find an exercise routine that you truly enjoy. Your workout should never be a punishment. Instead, think of it as a moment to focus solely on you and your body, and to prove to yourself that you’re capable of anything you put your mind to. Grab a friend and join a fitness class (*cough* barre *cough*). You’re more likely to stay dedicated that way!

Now, excuse me as I hold my plié for the next 15 minutes…