Determining Physical Activity Patterns of Suburban British Columbia Residents

Abstract

Background: Physical activity is well recognized for its role in disease prevention. Public health surveillance and action is warranted to combat the escalating economic and human costs associated with physical inactivity. Methods: This study examined the proportion of the population who were physically active at intensities, durations and frequencies specified as the minimum to accrue health benefit as per Canada's Physical Activity Guidelines. Data were collected from 769 suburban residents via a telephone survey, and analyzed using three methods: Individual Assessment (IA) where individuals met the required frequency, intensity and duration through a combination of activities; Categorical Assessment (CA) where individuals met the required frequency, intensity and duration in one or more categories leading to duplicated head-counts; and, Time-based Assessment (TA) where individuals met the required time per week (recommended frequency × duration) in a category through some combination of activity. Z-scores were used to test the null hypothesis that the proportion of people meeting the criteria in more than one category was zero. Results: The number of people meeting the guidelines in more than one category (CA) is significantly different (p<0.01) from zero for adults and the combined population, but not for children. Enough people are meeting the guidelines in more than one category to significantly influence the percentage calculated if one is not careful to avoid counting duplicates. Furthermore, significant differences were found between IA and TA for children, adults and the combined population with the time-based assessment significantly over-predicting the IA results. Interpretation: While 75% of the respondents reported they had been physically active during the previous week, only 39% of respondents reported enough physical activity to meet the guidelines for health benefits. This number varies widely depending on the method of classification. Canadians should be reminded of the physical activity guidelines by their health care providers to insure that those who are active are active frequently enough to accrue health benefit. MeSH terms: Physical activity; assessment; questionnaire; methods La traduction du résumé se trouve à la fin de l'article.

Canada’s physical activity guide recommendations are a low benchmark for Manitoba adults

“…The provincial sample size of more than 6500 is greater than the sample sizes of 2500 to 4500 found in many national surveys. As in previous telephone surveys (Anderson et al 2007), respondents were more likely to be female than male. The response rate of 35% is a potential weakness of the study, in that respondents may have been more physically active than nonrespondents.…”

“…This finding is considerably lower than our results for Manitoba and than the 2002-2003 CCHS finding that 58% of British Columbians are at least moderately active (>1.5 KKD) ( Statistics Canada 2003). The findings of Anderson et al (2007) are difficult to explain, given that their study used the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, which includes all forms of activity, not just leisure-time activity. One possible explanation is the small (n = 581) and localized sample.…”

“…This is comparable to our finding that 88.6% of Manitobans who met CPAG recommendations would be classified as active using the cut-point of 3 KKD. Anderson et al (2007) found that 39% of residents in a suburban area of British Columbia met the CPAG physical activity recommendations. This finding is considerably lower than our results for Manitoba and than the 2002-2003 CCHS finding that 58% of British Columbians are at least moderately active (>1.5 KKD) ( Statistics Canada 2003).…”

“…It also encourages Canadians to progress from light to moderate activities. Few studies have examined population activity levels in relation to the CPAG recommendations (Anderson et al 2007; Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute 1998). The Integrated Pan-Canadian Healthy Living Strategy calls for a 20% increase by 2015 in the proportion of Canadians who participate in moderate to vigorous physical activity for 30 min per day (Health Canada 2005).…”

Active Living Among Older Canadians: A Time-Use Perspective Over 3 Decades

“…For example, The Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (1998) examined rates of active living in Canadian adults. Anderson, Snodgrass, and Elliott (2007) examined rates of active living among a sample of suburban British Columbian adults, and Ashe et al (2009) used the Cycle 1.1 of the Canadian Community Health Survey to report leisuretime physical activity for adults age 65 years and older. Unlike these previous studies that used data collected using different versions of the Physical Activity Questionnaire survey instrument, this research employs data collected with a time diary instrument (for detailed descriptions see Converse, 1968;Harvey, 1990).…”