According to the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute, bicycling is the most reported physical activity of Canadian children aged five to 12, followed by swimming, playing on swings, using playground equipment, then walking. The next most popular activities in this age group are tobogganing or other winter activities, skating, soccer, in-line skating, running or jogging.

Boys aged five to 12 are more likely than girls of the same age to play golf, snowboard, skateboard and participate in team sports such as soccer, football, hockey, basketball, or baseball. However, girls are more likely to participate in social dancing, skating, gymnastics, ballet or other dance classes, and play on playground equipment.

Generally, the activities that are most popular among children aged five to 12 remain popular among adolescents, although the proportion of teenagers participating in each activity is usually lower. Nevertheless, a number of activities are more popular among teenagers than among younger children: alpine skiing, weight lifting, volleyball, social dancing, badminton, golf, tennis, football, basketball, exercise classes, and snowboarding.

One in four parents reports that their children use entirely active modes to travel to and from school each day; while one in five parents report that their children walk to and from school. Only one in 10 children in rural communities commute actively to school, while one-third of children living in larger communities either walk, cycle or skate to school.

Fifty-one per cent of Canadian children aged five to 17 rely on inactive modes of transportation to get to and from school.

The physically active children and youth research study was conducted during the 2001-2002school year. This ground-breaking population study of physical activity levels of children and youth used an objective measure (the accelerometer), as opposed to self-report or parent-proxy questionnaire. The accelerometer, a small device attached by a belt at the subject’s hip, records the intensity and total number of minutes of activity per day.

The purpose of the study was to (a) determine the percentage of children and youth who accumulate 60 minutes of moderate or higher physical activity on five or more days of the week;and (b) examine the factors which may contribute to the physical activity levels of children and youth in the province.

Ninety per cent of grade three boys and girls accumulated 60 minutes or more of moderate andvigourous physical activity on five or more days of the week. Among grade seven students, only62 per cent of males and 44 per cent of females met the 60 minutes requirement. By grade 11,only 12.6 per cent of males and 6.9 per cent of females accumulated 60 minutes or more ofactivity.

A 2001study from Dalhousie University reported barriers to physical activity by children and youth in Nova Scotia.

For Grade 3 students, the top 3 barriers to participating in physical activity are:
1. too expensive
2. too far away
3. no equipment

For Grade 7 students, the top 3 barriers to participating in physical activity are:
1. no time
2. no one to go with
3. too expensive

For Grade 11 students, the top 3 barriers to participating in physical activity are:
1. no time
2. no one to go with
3. too expensive

Over the past 25 years, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents has risen, with the most substantial increases observed in economically developed countries.

According to the results of the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey: Nutrition (CCHS), a substantial share of Canadian youth are part of this trend. The 2004 CCHS was the first time in many years that interviewers directly measured the height and weight of a nationally representative sample of Canadians.

The last time that the height and weight of a nationally representative sample of Canadian children and adolescents (aged 2 to 17) were directly measured was in 1978/79 as part of the Canada Health Survey. Results from that survey and the 2004 CCHS can be compared to get a better picture of the increase of overweight and obesity among young Canadians during the past quarter century.

In 1978/79, 12% of 2- to 17-year-olds were overweight, and 3% were obese—a combined overweight/obesity rate of 15%. By 2004, the overweight rate for this age group was 18% (an estimated 1.1 million), and 8% were obese (about half a million)—a combined rate of 26%.Youth overweight and obesity rates varied across the country, with the highest rates tending to be in the Atlantic provinces.

In 2004, the combined overweight/obesity rate of 2- to 17-year-olds was significantly above the national level (26%) in Newfoundland and Labrador (36%), New Brunswick (34%), Nova Scotia (32%), and also, Manitoba (31%) (Chart 4). The prevalence of obesity was significantly higher than the national figure (8%) in Newfoundland and Labrador (17%) and New Brunswick (13%).

To read the full report, go to http://www.statcan.ca/english/research/82-620-MIE/2005001/articles/child/cobesity.htm#3