Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

1. What is active living?
2. Why is physical activity a serious health issue in Canada?
3. If physical inactivity is such a serious health risk, what is Health Canada doing to help Canadians improve their physical activity levels?
4. How can Canadians get a copy of the Guide?
5. Where can I find information on physical activity levels of Canadians?
6. Where can I get advice on general fitness/physical conditioning related questions?
   
7. How can we encourage an active living community?
8. How can we encourage workers to be active?
9. How can I stay active?
10. I want to exercise regularly but I just can't seem to stick with my program. What can I do to ensure that I am regularly physically active?
11. How can my family and I be more active in our leisure time?
12. How can I use a pedometer to help me to be active?
13. How can we make our communities more walkable?
14. How can I include active living in my busy lifestyle?
15. How does active living help me?
16. But I have a disability. How can I be active?
17. How do I prevent injury while being physically active?
18. I'm not exercising right now, but I am thinking about being active. How can I get ready to start being active?
19. When is the best time to stretch?
20. How does active living help me?
21. How can Canada's Physical Activity Guides help me improve my health?
22. How much physical activity is enough?
23. I've been physically active about three times per week for the past three months. How can I tell if I am improving?
24. Are my children active enough?
25. How much physical education (PE) do children need in school?
26. What should parents know about strength training for youth ages 12 to 17?

1. What is active living?

Active living is an approach to life that values and includes physical activity in everyday living.  Read the full article.

2. Why is physical activity a serious health issue in Canada?

We now have significant evidence that physical inactivity is bad for your health. It increases risk of premature death, chronic disease and disability - the magnitude of risk is on par with that of smoking. Research also shows that even light and moderate physical activity can improve your health. Every little bit of activity makes a difference and most people can do it.

Two-thirds of Canadians are inactive, a serious threat to their health and a burden on the public health care system. This points clearly to the need to help Canadians get active. For example, the 1997 Physical Activity Benchmarks report shows that 25% of deaths from heart disease in 1993 were the result of physical inactivity. These were deaths that could have been avoided. Physical inactivity is a serious threat to the health of Canadians and a burden on their public health care system. It's time for Canadians to take this information as a wake-up call and get moving.

3. If physical inactivity is such a serious health risk, what is Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) doing to help Canadians improve their physical activity levels?

At their annual meeting in Bathurst, New Brunswick, in February 2003, federal, provincial, and territorial Ministers responsible for physical activity, recreation, and sport set a new national target to increase physical activity by 10 percentage points in each province and territory by 2010. They also agreed to focus efforts on increasing physical activity among children and youth, and to undertake research to establish valid and reliable national baseline data for this target group.

The PHAC will continue to work in partnership with the provinces and territories to develop and deliver physical activity initiatives.

In 1998, Health Canada introduced Canada's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living, in cooperation with the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. The Guide has been officially endorsed by all provincial and territorial governments and more than 50 national organizations in physical activity, recreation, health and medical communities. Health Canada has since released Canada's Physical Activity Guide for Older Adults and Canada's Physical Activity Guides for Children and Youth. The PHAC is working collaboratively with endorsing organizations to promote and distribute the Guides through their networks.

4. How can Canadians get a copy of the Guide?

The Public Health Agency of Canada has set up a toll-free telephone service at 1-888-334-9769 for people to order the Guide free of charge. It is also available on the Internet at www.paguide.com via an online order form.

Click here to go to the online order form.

5. Where can I find information on physical activity levels of Canadians?

Visit the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (CFLRI) Web site. CFLRI monitors how active Canadians are and what factors influence their participation in physical activity. The Institute is Canada's authority on theory development, instrumentation, monitoring and evaluation, analysis, synthesis and interpretation of research findings, and communications in the area of physical activity.

6. Where can I get advice on general physical activity related questions?

Your best source for one-on-one fitness advice is to consult a certified fitness professional. Go to a nearby YMCA or other fitness facility in your community to find these professionals. Be sure to check for good credentials.

7. How can we encourage an active living community?

An active living community supports physical activity for people of all ages and abilities. This support is shown in the community's policies, facilities and programs. Read the full article.

8. How can we encourage workers to be active?

Adults in Canada spend much of their waking time at work. Workplace health programs that include active living can help employers and staff to be healthy and more successful at work - and that's good for everybody. Read the full article.

9. How can I stay active?

Here are some simple pointers on how to stay active: Read the full article.

10. I want to exercise regularly but I just can't seem to stick with my program. What can I do to ensure that I am regularly physically active?

Would you like to learn how to stick with your physical activity program? If so, you may find some of these suggestions helpful. Read the full article.

11. How can my family and I be more active in our leisure time?

It's a good idea to participate in both active and passive activities.Read the full article.

12. How can I use a pedometer to help me to be active?

A pedometer is a device that counts the number of steps you take when you walk or run.  Read the full article.

13. How can we make our communities more walkable?

Walking is the most popular physical activity in Canada. An area's walkability is affected by how it's designed. Some of the key factors that can affect an area's walkability include: Read the full article.

14. How can I include active living in my busy lifestyle?

People often say that they think about exercising but don't get around to doing it because they don't have the time. Read the full article.

15. How does active living help me?

Regular physical activity helps people of all ages and abilities. Read the full article.

16. But I have a disability. How can I be active?

Physical activity plays an important role in your health, quality of life and independence in daily activities. Read the full article.

17.How do I prevent injury while being physically active?

Here are some simple tips to help you to prevent injuries during physical activity. Read the full article.

18. I'm not exercising right now, but I am thinking about being active. How can I get ready to start being active?

Thinking about exercise and physical activity is a good step towards becoming active. Here are some tips to keep you thinking about physical activity and to help you get started: Read the full article.

19. When is the best time to stretch?

Stretching is an important part of any health and fitness routine.
Read the full article.

20. How does active living help me?

Regular physical activity helps people of all ages and abilities. Read the full article.

21. How can Canada's Physical Activity Guides help me improve my health?

Canada's Physical Activity Guides to Healthy Active Living can help you and your family make wise choices about physical activity to improve your health, help prevent disease and allow you to get the most out of life.  Read the full article.

22. How much physical activity is enough?

Being active will help you to stay healthy, live longer and improve your quality of life. Read the full article.

23. I've been physically active about three times per week for the past three months. How can I tell if I am improving?

While it is difficult to start and maintain a program, how do you know if you are improving? Different people respond to physical activity in different ways. Read the full article.

24. Are my children active enough?

Children in Canada watch an average of 14 hours of TV per week, and that doesn't include the hours they spend sitting in school, or in front of a computer doing homework or playing video games.  Read the full article.

25. How much physical education (PE) do children need in school?

Physical education (PE) is "designed to develop the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary for participating in active, healthy living." Read the full article.

26. What should parents know about strength training for youth ages 12 to 17?

Strength training is also called resistance training, weight training or weight lifting. This training involves working a muscle or group of muscles against resistance to increase muscle size, strength and power. Read the full article

Last Updated: 2008-04-16

Important Notices