In Canada
- Only 18% of adults achieve the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week1
- Only 9% of 5-17 year olds get the recommended 60 minutes of heart pumping activity they need each day2
The Guidelines
The Guidelines identify the minimum daily physical activity requirements to achieve health benefits according to different age groups.
The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years (0-4 years) and Children and Youth (5-17 years) recognizes that the whole day matters. There is a balance to achieve between physical activity, sedentary behaviour and a good night's sleep every day that supports healthy growth and development.
There is a difference between Physical Inactivity & Sedentary Behaviour:
| Physical Inactivity | Not meeting the minimum recommendations of the guidelines for physical activity. |
| Sedentary Behaviour | Any low intensity activity that you do while you are awake such as sitting or lying down. To reduce the risk of being sedentary, you need to move more and sit less. |
The benefits of physical activity are reduced through sedentary behaviour. Encourage your patients to move more and sit less!
Key Documents, Best Practice Guidelines, References
- Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP)
Guidelines and research related to the guidelines - Canadian Paediatric Society
Resources and evidence to help you incorporate messages about healthy active living messages into your practice - Canadian Guideline for Physical Activity throughout Pregnancy
- ParticipACTION Report Card
A comprehensive assessment of physical activity for children and youth in Canada - Obesity in Canada: A Whole -of-Society Approach for A Healthier Canada
- Sedentary Behavior Research Network
Date of creation: September 28, 2016
Last modified on: July 26, 2019
Last modified on: July 26, 2019
Tools
- Pre-screening for Physical Activity Participation forms
Includes the Par Med-X for Pregnancy Form - a guideline for health screening prior to participation in a prenatal fitness class or other exercise
- Exercise and Nutrition Prescription Pad (PDF)
- Exercise and Nutrition Prescription Pad - Reference Document (PDF)
- Exercise Is Medicine® Canada
Prescription, referral and other tools - Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology (CSEP) - Guidelines
CSEP resources and research related to the guidelines
- Active Kids, Healthy Kids
Canadian Paediatric Society resources and evidence to help you incorporate messages about healthy active living messages into your practice.
Programs and Services
Patient Resources
- Active for Life
- Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for the Early Years (0-4 Years)
- Early Years (0-4 Years) Activity Log Sheet
- Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines For Children and Youth (5-17 years)
- Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults 18-64 Years
- Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for Older Adults 65 Years & Older
- Caring for Kids
- ParticipACTION