Staying active

According to the 2000/01 Canadian Community Health Survey, nearly 43% of Canadians 12 years and over reported that they were physically active or moderately active during leisure time.

Generally, men were more likely than women to be active, except between the ages of 35 and 54, when there was very little difference reported.

For women, physical activity steadily decreased with age. Between the ages of 65 to 74, 36% of women participated in physical activities; that declined to 21% for women aged 75 and over.

Men, by contrast, increased their participation in physical activities from age 55 to 74: 42% of 55- to 64-year-olds were active, and that rose to 45% for 65- to 74-year-old men. For men 75 and over, participation in physical activities dropped to 33%.