Activity and Canadians.

(Source: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/12/22/f-health.html Accessed 2009, January 4)

Canada isn't as active as it used to be, according to a report from Statistics Canada. The survey found that barely 3 in 10 Canadians aged 15 years and over participated regularly in at least one sport in 2005, down dramatically from nearly half in the early 1990s.

The report estimates that 7.3 million people, or about 28 per cent of the adult population, participated in some form of sport. That's down substantially from 8.3 million, or 34 per cent, in 1998, and 9.6 million, or 45 per cent, in 1992. "Society is aging and becoming less active," said the report. "Only 17 per cent of Canadians aged 55 and over participated in sports, well below the proportion of 25 per cent in 1992."

That bodes ill for the health of the nation as does the findings of another report. Canada's Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth for 2008, published by the charitable group Active Healthy Kids Canada, finds that 90 per cent of Canadian children and youth are still failing to meet the guidelines outlined in Canada's Physical Activity Guides for Children and Youth. The guidelines recommend 60-90 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per day on most days of the week.