Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
- What is active living?
- Why is physical activity a serious health issue in Canada?
- If physical inactivity is such a serious health risk,
what is Health Canada doing to help Canadians improve their physical
activity levels?
- How can Canadians get a copy of the Guide?
- Where can I find information on physical activity levels
of Canadians?
- Where can I get advice on general fitness/physical conditioning
related questions?
1. What is active living?
Active living is a way of life in which physical activity is valued and
integrated into daily living. It means building physical activity into
your daily life - at home, at school, at work, at play, and on the way.
Simple examples include getting off the bus one stop early on your way
to work, leaving the car behind and walking to the corner store, finding
time to play outdoors with your kids -- the key is to find things you
like to do and then build them into your daily routine.
2. Why is physical activity a serious health issue in Canada?
We now have significant evidence that physical inactivity is bad for
your health. It increases risk of premature death, chronic disease and
disability - the magnitude of risk is on par with that of smoking. Research
also shows that even light and moderate physical activity can improve
your health. Every little bit of activity makes a difference and most
people can do it.
Two-thirds of Canadians are inactive, a serious threat to their health
and a burden on the public health care system. This points clearly to
the need to help Canadians get active. For example, the 1997 Physical
Activity Benchmarks report shows that 25% of deaths from heart disease
in 1993 were the result of physical inactivity. These were deaths that
could have been avoided. Physical inactivity is a serious threat to the
health of Canadians and a burden on their public health care system. It's
time for Canadians to take this information as a wake-up call and get
moving.
3. If physical inactivity is such a serious health risk, what is Public
Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) doing to help Canadians improve their
physical activity levels?
At their annual meeting in Bathurst, New Brunswick, in February 2003,
federal, provincial, and territorial Ministers responsible for physical
activity, recreation, and sport set a new national target to increase
physical activity by 10 percentage points in each province and territory
by 2010. They also agreed to focus efforts on increasing physical activity
among children and youth, and to undertake research to establish valid
and reliable national baseline data for this target group.
The PHAC will continue to work in partnership with the provinces and
territories to develop and deliver physical activity initiatives.
In 1998, Health Canada introduced Canada's
Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living, in cooperation with
the Canadian Society for
Exercise Physiology. The Guide has been officially endorsed by all
provincial and territorial governments and more than 50 national organizations
in physical activity, recreation, health and medical communities. Health
Canada has since released Canada's Physical Activity
Guide for Older Adults and Canada's Physical
Activity Guides for Children and Youth.
The PHAC is working collaboratively with endorsing organizations
to promote and distribute the Guides through their networks.
4. How can Canadians get a copy of the Guide?
The Public Health Agency of Canada has set up a toll-free telephone
service at 1-888-334-9769 for people to order the Guide free of charge.
It is also available on the Internet at www.paguide.com via
an online order form.
Click here to go to the online order form.
5. Where can I find information on physical activity levels of Canadians?
Visit the Canadian Fitness
and Lifestyle Research Institute (CFLRI) Web site. CFLRI monitors
how active Canadians are and what factors influence their participation
in physical activity. The Institute is Canada's authority on theory development,
instrumentation, monitoring and evaluation, analysis, synthesis and interpretation
of research findings, and communications in the area of physical activity.
6. Where can I get advice on general physical activity related questions?
Your best source for one-on-one fitness advice is to consult a certified
fitness professional. Go to a nearby YMCA or other fitness facility in
your community to find these professionals. Be sure to check for good
credentials.
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