Table 17
Changes in physical activity level since 1994/1995, Canada and provinces


                                                        Changes in the level of physical activity from 1994/1995 to 2004/2005
  Number  %
Higher level of physical activity  
Canada 1,450,266 7.6
Newfoundland and Labrador 28,584 E 7.2 E
Prince Edward Island 7,778 9.1
Nova Scotia 60,573 9.2
New Brunswick 36,079 E 7.2 E
Quebec 275,824 5.6
Ontario 561,696 7.8
Manitoba 59,084 E 8.9 E
Saskatchewan 40,141 E 6.8 E
Alberta 128,487 7.4
British Columbia 252,018 10.3
Stable active level of physical activity  
Canada 354,703 1.9
Newfoundland and Labrador F F
Prince Edward Island F F
Nova Scotia F F
New Brunswick F F
Quebec F F
Ontario 166,398 2.3
Manitoba F F
Saskatchewan F F
Alberta 48,361 E 2.8 E
British Columbia 82,502 E 3.4 E
Stable moderately active level of physical activity  
Canada 48,129 E 0.3 E
Newfoundland and Labrador F F
Prince Edward Island F F
Nova Scotia F F
New Brunswick F F
Quebec F F
Ontario F F
Manitoba F F
Saskatchewan F F
Alberta F F
British Columbia F F
Stable inactive level of physical activity  
Canada 3,192,884 16.7
Newfoundland and Labrador 70,142 17.6
Prince Edward Island 23,401 27.4
Nova Scotia 127,205 19.4
New Brunswick 103,772 20.6
Quebec 908,609 18.6
Ontario 1,236,594 17.3
Manitoba 113,171 17.1
Saskatchewan 112,913 19.2
Alberta 242,218 13.9
British Columbia 254,859 10.4
Lower level of physical activity  
Canada 1,159,110 6.1
Newfoundland and Labrador 29,576 E 7.4 E
Prince Edward Island 4,740 E 5.6 E
Nova Scotia 32,335 E 4.9 E
New Brunswick 27,852 E 5.5 E
Quebec 365,176 7.5
Ontario 409,636 5.7
Manitoba 43,638 E 6.6 E
Saskatchewan 39,794 E 6.8 E
Alberta 90,589 E 5.2 E
British Columbia 115,774 4.7
Several changes in the level of physical activity  
Canada 12,951,491 67.6
Newfoundland and Labrador 264,216 66.3
Prince Edward Island 48,091 56.4
Nova Scotia 422,575 64.4
New Brunswick 330,835 65.6
Quebec 3,307,859 67.6
Ontario 4,774,461 66.6
Manitoba 436,026 66.0
Saskatchewan 386,409 65.6
Alberta 1,233,196 70.6
British Columbia 1,747,823 71.2

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).