Gender Gap in Physical Activity: Canadian Men Outpace Women, Statistics Canada Reports
Krissy Vann | Host, All Things Fitness and Wellness
A recent report from Statistics Canada shows that, on the whole, Canadian men are more physically active than women. But it's not just about gender—there are various factors at play that influence people's activity levels.
The report reveals that while 45% of Canadian adults meet the recommended 150 minutes of weekly physical activity, certain risk factors make it harder for some individuals to achieve this goal. However, a noteworthy gender gap persists, with 38% of women reaching this target compared to 45% of men. The article, titled "Intersecting Risk Factors for Physical Inactivity among Canadian Adults," highlights groups in the Canadian adult population facing challenges in staying active.
Here's what the report found:
Women tend to be less active than men, no matter their age, income, education, family situation, or health status.
Older adults are generally less active than younger adults. But older adults with lower income, less education, who live alone, and who smoke are even less active than their counterparts without these risk factors.
Younger Canadians are more active than older adults, but those with kids at home are less active than those without children.
Young single mothers, with only 32% meeting activity recommendations, face multiple risk factors, including low income, smoking, and central adiposity (extra weight around the middle).
The report also notes a rise in one-parent families with children, increasing from 9% in 1976 to 16.4% in 2021, with mothers making up 77.2% of these families.
This information is based on data collected from six cycles of the Canadian Health Measures Survey between 2007 and 2019. It helps identify common combinations of risk factors for inactivity in Canada, offering valuable insights for targeting health messages and strategies where they are needed most.
Understanding and addressing these differences are crucial because being physically active is strongly linked to preventing early death and many chronic health issues. By focusing on these findings, we can work towards a healthier and more active Canadian population.
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