Table 16
Changes in physical activity level since 1994/1995, by age group, Canada


                                                        Changes in the level of physical activity from 1994/1995 to 2004/2005
  Number  %
Higher level of physical activity  
Total, 12 years and over 1,450,266 7.6
12 to 19 years 200,507 E 7.2
20 to 34 years 393,701 7.0
35 to 44 years 381,158 8.6
45 to 64 years 384,061 7.8
65 years and over 90,839 E 6.5 E
Stable active level of physical activity  
Total, 12 years and over 354,703 1.9
12 to 19 years 63,678 E 2.3 E
20 to 34 years 95,452 E 1.7 E
35 to 44 years 95,543 E 2.1 E
45 to 64 years 75,637 E 1.5 E
65 years and over F F
Stable moderately active level of physical activity  
Total, 12 years and over 48,129 E 0.3 E
12 to 19 years F F
20 to 34 years F F
35 to 44 years F F
45 to 64 years F F
65 years and over F F
Stable inactive level of physical activity  
Total, 12 years and over 3,192,884 16.7
12 to 19 years 147,244 E 5.3 E
20 to 34 years 815,906 14.6
35 to 44 years 941,120 21.1
45 to 64 years 955,276 19.4
65 years and over 333,337 23.7
Lower level of physical activity  
Total, 12 years and over 1,159,110 6.1
12 to 19 years 249,343 E 8.9 E
20 to 34 years 316,084 5.7
35 to 44 years 231,670 5.2
45 to 64 years 230,045 4.7
65 years and over 131,968 9.4
Several changes in the level of physical activity  
Total, 12 years and over 12,951,491 67.6
12 to 19 years 2,124,399 76.2
20 to 34 years 3,956,703 70.8
35 to 44 years 2,787,314 62.6
45 to 64 years 3,257,940 66.2
65 years and over 825,135 58.6

1. The table shows changes in the physical activity level of the 1994/1995 household population 12 years or over, between cycle 1 and another cycle of the National Population Health Survey. Population, age, sex, Canada and province are based on the first survey cycle (cycle 1) in 1994/1995. Respondents are classified as active, moderately active or inactive based on an index of average daily physical activity over the past 3 months. For each leisure time physical activity engaged in by the respondent, an average daily energy expenditure is calculated by multiplying the number of times the activity was performed by the average duration of the activity by the energy cost (kilocalories per kilogram of body weight per hour) of the activity. The index is calculated as the sum of the average daily energy expenditures of all activities. Respondents are classified as follows with regards to physical activity: 3.0 kcal/kg/day or more = active; 1.5 to 2.9 kcal/kg/day = moderately active; less than 1.5 kcal/kg/day = inactive.
2. The table excludes persons who died or who were institutionalized after cycle 1 survey interview in 1994/1995. Estimated number of persons who have died: 1,279 persons after cycle 5 and 1,640 persons after cycle 6. These data are not all confirmed yet with the Canadian Vital Statistics Database. Persons living in an institution are excluded because they are not asked certain questions. Estimated number of persons who have been institutionalized: 161 persons at cycle 5 and 144 persons at cycle 6.
3. The table also excludes non-response (missing values), that is, "not applicable", "don't know", "refusal" and "not stated".
4. No estimates for physical activity level are provided for 1994/1995; what is shown instead are the changes in the physical activity level.
5. Percentages are based on the population with a specific characteristic (one category) in a given cycle as the numerator divided by the total population in 1994/1995 having all possible characteristics (all categories) as the denominator, excluding missing values.
6. Bootstrapping techniques were used to produce the coefficient of variation (CV) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
7. Data with a coefficient of variation (CV) from 16.6% to 33.3% are identified by an (E) and should be interpreted with caution.
8. Data with a coefficient of variation (CV) greater than 33.3% were suppressed (F) due to extreme sampling variability.
9. Changes in physical activity of the 1994/1995 population during each consecutive survey cycle from 1994/1995 to 2004/2004 are based on the 2004/2005 longitudinal full cycle 1 to cycle 6 subset of respondents (from 2004/2005 longitudinal data file). This subset contains all panel members with a complete (full) response in cycle 1 (1994/1995), cycle 2 (1996/1997), cycle 3 (1998/1999), cycle 4 (2000/2001), cycle 5 (2002/2003) and cycle 6 (2004-2005). Number of respondents for this table (excluding missing values): 7,793.
Note(s): When comparing estimates, it is important to use confidence intervals to determine if differences between values are statistically significant. Confidence intervals describe sampling variability and give an indication of the precision of a given estimate. Please note that confidence intervals and coefficient of variations are provided in the CANSIM tables.
Source(s): Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 2002/2003 and 2004/2005 longitudinal data file (CANSIM table 104-7040).