Did you know that, according to Statistics Canada (2007), more than half of Canadians 20 years and older are inactive? The low rate of physical activity is surprising given that, most Canadians agree that regular physical activity helps people to:

• work more effectively.
• deal with and reduce stress.
• recover from minor illness quicker.

When it comes to health, there are many reasons to get and stay active. Research shows that physical activity helps prevent heart disease, hypertension, stroke, type II diabetes, osteoporosis, some cancers, depression, and allows you to maintain your independence in later years.

In short, people who are physically active are healthier, live longer, and enjoy a better quality of life than those who aren’t physically active.

If you want to be active but feel you don’t have the time or money, try some small changes to your daily habits. For example:

• Climb up and down the stairs during the day (total 15 minutes per day) for five days a week and burn about 650 calories, which can lead to 4.3 kg (9.5 lbs) of weight loss a year.

• Take a brisk walk for 15 minutes a day (one break), five days a week, to burn about 425 calories per week which can lead to about 2.7 kg (6.5lbs) of weight loss a year.

• At home, light gardening will increase your flexibility. If you do 2 hours each summer weekend you will burn about 675 calories a weekend, which can lead to about 1.3 kg (2.9 lbs) of weight loss over the season.

• Golfing nine holes without a cart once a week will improve your muscular fitness, and flexibility. Plus you burn about 800 calories which, over 15 weeks, can lead to about 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs) of weight loss.

These are just a few of the things you can do to get and stay active. Small changes really do add up and they can lead to new and healthier habits for a lifetime. For more ideas about how to be and stay active, review Canada’s Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living located at www.paguide.com.

*based on a 68 kg (150 lb) individual

Key References:

Cragg, C., Wolfe, R., Griffith, J., & Cameron, C. (2007). Physical Activity Among Canadian Workers: Trends 2001-2006. Retrieved June 12, 2008, from

http://www.cflri.ca/eng/statistics/surveys/document/pam2006_001.pdf

Statistics Canada. Table 105-0501 - Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) indicator profile, by age group and sex, Canada, provinces, territories, health regions (2007 boundaries) and peer groups, annual, CANSIM (database). Retrieved June 26, 2008 from

http://cansim2.statcan.ca/cgi-win/cnsmcgi.exe?Lang=E&CANSIMFile=CII\CII_1_E.htm&RootDir=CII/.