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Physical
Activity - Chronic Disease Prevention
Data definitions,
limitations & uses • Data Sources
Regular physical activity can provide
many benefits to our community members. These
include improved cardiovascular function, better
posture and balance, better self-esteem, stronger
muscles and bones, feeling more energetic, greater
relaxation and reduced stress and continued
independent living later in life. Not being
physically active is recognized as a significant
risk factor for coronary heart disease and other
serious health problems.
In 1996, among those living in the
combined regions of Leeds, Grenville & Lanark,
Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington and
Hastings and Prince Edward (LGL/KFLA/HPE), 34% of
residents 20 and older, and 42% of residents 12 to
19 years of age participated in daily physical
activity (see figure 1).
In this region, residents younger than 20 were
more likely to participate in daily physical
activity than those over 20. This trend was also
observed in Ontario. The prevalence of people that
are active decreases with increasing age. This is
observable in both in LGL/KFLA/HPE and Ontario.
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Through a series of questions asked of
residents in the 1996
Ontario Health Survey, we are able to
determine the proportion of people that led active
lives in 1996. By the survey’s definition, an
active person is someone who performs physical
activities that produces cardiovascular benefits.
A moderately active person would experience health
benefits from the physical activities they
performed, without any significant cardiovascular
benefits. In LGL/KFLA/HPE, only 19% of women and
25% of men 12 and older were active by this
definition in 1996 (see
figure 2).
Despite the fact that there were very few
active residents in LGL/KFLA/HPE, there are still
significant fractions of the population that
frequently participate in some form of physical
activity. For example, in 1996, 62% of males and
females were "Regular" participants in
physical activity (see
figure 3). This means that many residents do
perform numerous acts where they are physically
active, although these activities may not produce
cardiovascular benefits.
Data definitions,
limitations & uses
Proportion of population who are active
Frequency of Physical Activity
Data
Sources
Ontario Health Survey, 1996
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