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Copyright of Canadian Studies in Population is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Higher Education is the property of Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: This study explores how gender and sex shape the military-to-civilian transition (MCT) of women. Methods: Semi-structured, in-depth interviews and focus groups were conducted with Canadian women Veterans. Results: Thirty-three women who served in the Canadian Armed Forces, and had since released or retired participated in the study. Participants had heterogeneous military service backgrounds but were fairly homogeneous in terms of their identity backgrounds (cisgender, and primarily white and heterosexual). More than half had a present or past relationship with a military or ex-military member. Discussion: Whereas the MCT literature tends to emphasize discontinuities between military and civilian life, women Veterans' accounts highlight continuities in gendered experiences. Women are expected to fit the male norm and masculine ideal of the military member during service, but they are rarely recognized as Veterans after service. Women experience invisibility as military members and Veterans and simultaneously hypervisibility as (ex-)military women who do not fit military or civilian gender norms. Moreover, gendered caregiving expectations are placed on them as spouses and mothers during and after service, making it hard to balance military work and family life or to focus on their MCT. Women encounter care and support systems set up on the normative assumption of the military and Veteran man supported by a female spouse. Study findings point to a needed redesign of military and Veteran systems to remove sex and gender biases and better respond to the sex- and gender-specific MCT needs of women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines how people with disabilities and chronic health conditions—members of a large and diverse group often overlooked by Canadian public policy—are making sense of the Canadian federal government's response to COVID-19. Using original national online survey data collected in June 2020 (N = 1,027), we investigate how members of this group view the government's overall response. Although survey results show broad support for the federal government's pandemic response, findings also indicate fractures based on disability type and specific health condition, political partisanship, region, and experiences with COVID-19. Among these, identification with the Liberal party and receipt of CERB stand out as associated with more positive views. Further examination of qualitative responses shows that these views are also linked to differing perspectives surrounding government benefits and spending, partisan divisions, and other social and cultural cleavages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A year into the COVID‐19 pandemic, this paper reflects on the changes that occurred in agrifood supply chains in Canada and the United States. The sudden shift in food consumption patterns from food service to food retail required realignment of food supply chains. For the most part, food supply chains have performed remarkably well during the pandemic. Cross‐border food supply chains have continued to function effectively. The most significant disruptions emerged from workforce outbreaks of COVID‐19 in the meat processing sector and in fruit and vegetable production. The paper discusses supply chain resilience and argues that agrifood supply chains are characterized by several important differences that need to be taken into consideration when evaluating resilience. Economies of scale and scope offer economic efficiency advantages in normal times, while investments in adaptability and flexibility can enhance resilience for abnormal times. Potential long‐run changes within supply chains include increased automation and digitalization in food supply chains, while investments in infrastructure for online delivery services have permanently altered the food retailing landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth were released in 2016. These guidelines contained recommendations for moderate to vigorous physical activity, screen time, and sleep duration. The objectives of this study were to determine ( i) if achieving the individual recommendations and combinations of the recommendations within the guidelines is associated with indicators of physical, mental, and social health within children and youth; ( ii) if meeting the recommendation for a specific movement behaviour is associated with larger differences in physical, mental, and social health indicators compared with meeting the recommendations for the other specific movement behaviours; and ( iii) if physical, mental, and social health indicators differ according to different combinations of the guideline recommendations achieved. To address these objectives, we studied a representative sample of over 17 000 Canadians aged 10-17 years. The findings indicated that participants achieving any given recommendation had preferable scores for the health outcomes compared with participants who did not meet the recommendations. There was a dose-response pattern between the number of recommendations achieved and the health outcomes, indicating that the health outcomes improved as more recommendations were achieved. When the number of recommendations achieved was the same, there were no differences in the health outcomes. For instance, health indicators scores were not different in the group who achieved the sleep and screen time recommendations, the group who achieved sleep and moderate to vigorous physical activity recommendations, and the group who achieved screen time and moderate to vigorous physical activity recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have become a major contributor to the diets of Canadians, with a recent report from Statistics Canada suggesting Canadians are consuming almost one-half of their calories from UPFs. Research has linked UPF consumption with increased risk for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, among others. This paper sought to investigate the popularity of UPFs, particularly among children and teens, utilizing the socioecological model as a framework to illustrate how influences at multiple levels (i.e., public policy, organizational, community, interpersonal, and individual) have played a role in the proliferation of UPFs. Evidence from previous studies is used to identify how factors at different levels may influence UPF consumption and discuss potential strategies for reducing UPF consumption. To meaningfully reduce UPF consumption among Canadians, all levels should be considered, with the goal of creating a healthier Canadian population.

In 2005 the Supreme Court of Canada issued a landmark ruling in the debate on privatization of Quebec's health care system. The Quebec government subsequently made several decisions, such as lifting the ban on private insurance for some health services already offered in the public system. We interviewed 42 stakeholders who were involved in the decision process between 1999 and 2008 and analyzed their views. We identified three types of positions on privatization, based on two key factors raised in these encounters: (a) the ideological and political inertia of both civil society and the state and (b) the concerted action of stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant number of foreign-trained skilled immigrants are employed in low-skilled service sector jobs in major Canadian cities. However, there is no study to understand their physical and mental health status. We hypothesized that most of these immigrant workers have elevated physical and mental health problems because of lowered self-esteem, job dissatisfaction, and work-related stress. A survey questionnaire containing 49 questions was designed to collect quantitative data (n = 146) from skilled immigrants working as taxi drivers, convenience store workers, and gas station workers in the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Analysis of the data involved the use of descriptive as well as inferential statistics to understand the predictors of self-reported health status. Skilled immigrants who are working in an occupation that underutilizes their knowledge, skills, and experience are found to have elevated levels of work-related stress, poor quality of life, and deteriorated physical and mental health. Ethnic origin of the participant, level of education, years spent on current occupation, degree of job satisfaction, level of work-related stress, Body Mass Index (BMI), and chronic health conditions are good predictors of self-reported health of skilled immigrants working in these occupations. Les immigrants hautement qualifiés et les emplois peu qualifiés : les défis de santé au quotidien Un nombre important d'immigrants qualifiés et formés à l'étranger occupent des emplois exigeant peu de qualifications dans le secteur tertiaire des grandes villes canadiennes. Cependant, aucune étude n'a été menée à ce jour qui aborde la question de leur état de santé physique et mentale. Nous émettons l'hypothèse selon laquelle la plupart de ces travailleurs immigrés souffrent de problèmes de santé physique et mentale sévères en raison de la baisse d'estime de soi, l'insatisfaction de l'emploi, et le stress lié au travail. La conception d'un questionnaire composé de 49 questions avait pour objectif de recueillir des données quantitatives (n = 146) auprès de travailleurs qualifiés issus de l'immigration et travaillant dans la ville d'Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, comme chauffeurs de taxi et préposés dans des dépanneurs ou dans des stations de service. L'analyse des données a reposé sur des statistiques descriptives et inférentielles pour comprendre les facteurs prédictifs de l'état de santé auto-déclaré. Il ressort que les immigrants qualifiés dont l'activité professionnelle valorise peu les connaissances, compétences et expériences ont des niveaux élevés de stress lié au travail, une mauvaise qualité de vie et un état de santé physique et mentale dégradé. L'origine ethnoculturelle, le niveau de scolarité, le nombre d'années à exercer cette activité professionnelle, le degré de satisfaction au travail, le niveau de stress lié au travail, l'indice de masse corporelle (IMC), et les problèmes de santé chroniques constituent des facteurs prédictifs de l'état de santé auto-déclaré des immigrants qualifiés qui exercent ces activités professionnelles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health is the property of Canadian Periodical for Community Studies Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Studies in Population is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

By examining the role of the Canadian press in framing health and social issues of immigrants, the authors highlight the issues of power and social injustice in which immigrant health is constructed and handled by Canada's health policies. Critical discourse analysis of 273 articles from 10 major Canadian dailies over one decade showed that pre-existing racializing discourses, which treat the immigrant body both as a disease breeder and an irresponsible health fraudster, continue to materialize in contemporary Canadian press coverage. A more balanced and fair media coverage of immigrant health will require deracialization of immigrant health issues as well as the transformation of the Canadian press toward greater inclusivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different categories of services present different policy issues for financing health care. This conceptual paper suggests four categories: (1) public health services for the entire population; (2) basic health care to individuals, where anticipated costs are small and relatively homogeneous; (3) potentially catastrophically expensive services to individuals, where costs are skewed but not predictable; and (4) potentially catastrophically expensive services to individuals, where anticipated costs are both skewed and predictable. Using Canadian and Manitoba data to illustrate some implications of the distribution of health expenditures, we suggest policies suitable for one category of services may not necessarily work for others. The small proportion responsible for incurring high health expenditures are not attractive candidates for voluntary risk pools, particularly in competitive markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social participation has tremendous implications for the physical and mental health of older adults. A growing body of Canadian literature has examined social participation among older adults, including frequency of participation; gender, age, and regional differences in participation; and associations with self-perceived health, loneliness, and life dissatisfaction. The current study adds to this important body of research, using a large, nationally representative sample of adults 45-85 years of age (Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging [CLSA] baseline data [ n = 51,338]), to examine nuanced characteristics associated with social participation (socio-demographics, social support, cognitive ability, mental health, physical conditions), frequency of participation, and the relationship between the aforementioned characteristics and frequency of participation. Findings indicated that compared with those who reported infrequent/no participation, more frequent participation was associated with greater social support, higher cognitive abilities, increased satisfaction with life, fewer depressive symptoms, reduced odds of self-reported mood and anxiety disorders, and fewer self-reported physical conditions. Findings highlight the importance of active social participation, and have important implications for the development and implementation of accessible community programs across Canada.

"Health" is a highly prized positive value, a commodity and an industry-and also a topic of robust public and academic interest. This article aims to open a conversation about what a communications-oriented approach to health might look like. It reviews the Canadian Journal of Communication from its inception for instruction on how health-related topics have been examined by communication scholars, observing the lack of common questions and approaches when it comes to health and Canadian communication scholarship. The article suggests that alongside issues related to the "right to health" and the "imperative of health" (which is bound up with self-monitoring, lifestyle risks, and what I call the language of betterment), we might also important questions around promotion, packaging and embodiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerns over health and obesity have led to a range of 'better-for-you' food products targeted at consumers. This analysis examines 354 supermarket foods targeted at children in Canada, assessing the nutritional quality and types of appeals of 'better-for-you' packaged foods compared to 'regular' fare. While 'better-for-you' products fared better nutritionally (particularly for fat or sodium), high levels of sugar are evident in both categories. This analysis further examines some important considerations regarding both 'health halos' and the promotion of food as 'fun.' Overall, it reveals that products marketed to children as 'better-for-you' are as much about marketing as they are about nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study estimates the impact of retirement on subsequent health outcomes as measured by self-reported health status. The empirical study is based on seven longitudinal waves of the Canadian National Population Health Survey, spanning 1994 through 2006. To account for biases due to unobserved individual-specific heterogeneity, this study uses a fixed-effects method. The results indicate that retirement has a positive but insignificant impact on self-reported health status. The study further examined this issue using different subgroups based on gender and income and again found that retirement has no significant impact on health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the tracking of short-term muscle power, speed, and physical activity over a 15-month period in a sample of healthy Canadian preschool-aged children. Seventeen preschoolers (age, 4.4 ± 0.8 years) completed exercise testing and physical activity monitoring at baseline and follow-up separated by 14.6 ± 4.1 months. Short-term muscle power was measured using a modified 10-s Wingate test with peak power and mean power normalized to body mass. Speed was assessed with a 25-m dash. Physical activity was measured by accelerometry (Actigraph GT1M) using a 3-s epoch over 7 consecutive days. Total physical activity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, expressed as a percentage of accelerometer wear time, were examined. Tracking of the variables between year 1 and year 2 was analyzed using Spearman rank order correlations and Kappa statistics. Paired t-tests were used to assess differences in performance and physical activity between year 1 and year 2. Total physical activity was not significantly different at year 2 (p > 0.05) and showed fair tracking (r = 0.51, p = 0.05; κ = 0.30). Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was increased at year 2 (p = 0.03) and exhibited poor tracking (r = 0.29, p = 0.28; κ = 0.00). Short-term muscle power and speed was increased at year 2 (p < 0.0001) and exhibited significant tracking: peak power (r = 0.72, p = 0.001; κ = 0.46), mean power (r = 0.83, p = 0.00004; κ = 0.82), and 25-m dash (r = 0.82, p = 0.0001; κ = 0.47). Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity increased in this sample of boys and girls during the preschool years, and short-term muscle power and speed exhibited stronger tracking than physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greater clarification is needed about the differences between gay and bisexual men's health issues. With data from a pan-Canadian online survey, bisexual (n = 564) and gay men (n = 1,109) were compared on 32 different psychological, social, and sexual self-perceived problems that they might have encountered over the past 12 months. Clear patterns emerged. Relative to gay men, bisexual men had significantly higher adjusted odds of different sexual orientation or identity problems and certain health behaviour problems but significantly lower odds of several mental health and HIV/STI-related problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the growing number of studies investigating the association between perceived discrimination and psychological health, research of this kind is scarce in Canada. To begin addressing this omission, the present study documents the frequency of discriminatory events experienced by sexual minorities and their linkage with indicants of psychological well-being. Responding to an online survey, 348 self-identifying gay men (n = 177) and lesbian women (n = 169) completed measures of perceived discrimination, depression, psychological distress, life optimism, and self-esteem. Perceiving verbal insults and verbal threats were the most frequently cited incidents, and several statistically significant correlates of depression and psychological distress emerged. Exploratory analyses revealed that: (a) the association between depression and internalized homonegativity was greater in magnitude for lesbian women than for gay men; and (b) the associations between being the recipient of verbal insults and depression and psychological distress were greater for gay men than lesbian women. Limitations of the study and directions for future research are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research presented in this article examines women's perceptions of how the criminal laws relating to prostitution affect the experience of working in the off-street Canadian sex industry. The results of interviews with 10 women indicate that the criminalization of prostitution has numerous effects on the health and safety of indoor workers: the workers are alienated from the protective services of police; they are often misinformed about their legal rights in Canada; they face personal, legal, and social consequences for association with a criminalized activity; their abilities to mitigate risk are severely limited by the criminalization of ancillary activities related to prostitution; and their health is directly affected by the isolation and stress that accompany marginalized labour. The participants share their advice for future regulation of the sex industry in Canada and strongly encourage the removal of adult consensual sex work from the realm of criminal behaviour in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Studies in Population is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Provincial nutrition surveys of adults were conducted between 1990 and 1999 in Canada. Eight reports have been issued, and one is forthcoming. The purpose of this study was to estimate the national dietary intake of adult Canadians, using the publicly available data. Group mean-nutrient-intake data from 16 915 adults, aged 18 to 84 years, from published provincial reports were collated by age and sex for each of 9 provinces (Manitoba data were unavailable). Using Canadian census data appropriate to the year of collection, intake data were weighted to provide 1 national intake value for each nutrient, by 8 age and sex categories. In general, the energy and nutrient intake of adults decreased with age. For every age group, with the exception of vitamin C, intake of nutrients by men was greater than that by women. On the basis of a comparison of recently recommended intakes (Dietary Reference Intakes), the nutrients that are of concern because of inadequate intake include dietary fibre, calcium, magnesium, and folate. The data demonstrate the impact of folate fortification on folate intake; the mean intake became twice that of prefortification levels. This study used group mean-intake data; therefore, we cannot make definitive conclusions about the prevalence of inadequacy for the nutrients. Because of limitations with some provincial response rates, our data should not be construed as representative of the Canadian population. However, because these surveys were completed between the 19701972 Nutrition Canada Survey and the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey, these population-weighted data might be a useful point of comparison for monitoring trends in nutrient intake from food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With 26% of Canadians suffering from obesity, significant steps are needed to reduce the social and economic costs entailed by their condition. Given its major contribution to this phenomenon, the quality of diet has been at the heart of numerous previous studies. The objective of the study is to analyze, based on recent data, the association between the quality of the diet of Canadian adults (18 years old and over), and their individual characteristics as well as those of their living environment, including several new elements (prices of fruits and vegetables, food security status)., Methods: Using data from the 2015 CCHS-Nutrition Survey and information from the 2007 Canadian Food Guide, a diet quality score (also called healthy eating index) was first calculated and then associated with different factors (identified in a literature review) through multiple linear regressions., Results: In addition to confirming its association with age, gender, overall well-being and other socio-economic factors, this study reveals that quality of adult diets is negatively correlated with the evolution of people's food insecurity status and the increase of vegetable prices in the Canadian provinces since 2002. The positive link between diabetes and the quality of diet could reflect healthier eating behaviors due to the constraints generated by this disease. While city dwellers generally have access to a more diversified food supply, they nevertheless do not have a better diet than the rural population. Finally, non-North American immigrants appear to have a better diet than non-autochthonous Canadians., Conclusion: Paying more attention to food insecurity and to the affordability of vegetables are avenues to explore in view of improving the quality of nourishment in Canada. In any event, longitudinal studies shall be required to confirm the role and to measure the actual influence of these variables on the quality of individual adult diets., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to develop and validate health-related criterion-referenced cut-points for the modified Canadian Aerobic Fitness Test (mCAFT), a field-based measure to predict cardiorespiratory fitness among adults (18-69 years). Criterion-referenced mCAFT cut-points were developed using nationally representative data from cycles 1 (2007-2009) and 2 (2009-2011) of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to identify age- and sex-specific cut-points for measured waist circumference, blood pressure, and high-density lipoprotein. Cut-points were validated against metabolic syndrome using a fasted subsample ( n = 1093) from cycle 5 (2016-2017). For the main analyses, 4967 participants (50% women) were retained. The mCAFT cut-points ranged from 28 to 43 mL·kg -1 ·min -1 (area under the curve (AUC): 0.60-0.87) among men, and 23 to 37 mL·kg -1 ·min -1 (AUC: 0.61-0.86) among women. The likelihood of meeting the new mCAFT cut-points decreased with an increase in the presence of metabolic risk factors. In total, 54% (95% confidence interval: 42% to 67%) of Canadian adults met the new mCAFT cut-points in 2016-2017. This study developed and validated the first health-related criterion-referenced mCAFT cut-points for metabolic health among Canadian adults aged 18-69 years. These mCAFT cut-points may be useful in health surveillance, clinical, and public health settings. Novelty We developed and validated new criterion-referenced cut-points for the mCAFT to help identify adults at potential risk of poor metabolic health. These new cut-points could help support national health surveillance efforts.

The objective of this study was to establish cut-points to identify potential clustered cardiometabolic risk among children (aged 9-13 years) and youth (aged 14-17 years) using the modified Canadian Aerobic Fitness Test (mCAFT). Nationally representative cross-sectional data were obtained from cycles 1 and 2 (2007-2011) of the Canadian Health Measures Survey. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured using the mCAFT, which was used to estimate peak oxygen consumption. Clustered cardiometabolic health was identified as the mean of 4 standardized variables: sum of 4 skinfolds; total cholesterol-to-high-density lipoprotein ratio; and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In total, 2106 (49% female) participants were retained for this analysis. The optimal mCAFT cut-point for males was 49 and 46 mL·kg -1 ·min -1 among children and youth, respectively. Among females, the mCAFT cut-point was 46 and 37 mL·kg -1 ·min -1 among children and youth, respectively. In 2016-2017, 83% of females and 71% of males met the new mCAFT cut-points. The mCAFT cut-points can help identify children and youth at potential risk of poor cardiometabolic health in public health surveillance, clinical, and school-based settings. Novelty We developed new mCAFT cut-points to identify potential clustered cardiometabolic risk among Canadian children and youth. These mCAFT cut-points can be used to inform national health surveillance efforts.

There are knowledge gaps in our understanding of the development of chronic disease risks in children, especially with regard to the risk differentials experienced by immigrants and refugees. The Healthy Immigrant Children study employed a mixed-methods cross-sectional study design to characterize the health and nutritional status of 300 immigrant and refugee children aged 3-13 years who had been in Canada for less than 5 years. Quantitative data regarding socioeconomic status, food security, physical activity, diet, and bone and body composition and anthropometric measurements were collected. Qualitative data regarding their experiences with accessing health care and their family lifestyle habits were gathered through in-depth interviews with the parents of newcomer children. Many newcomers spoke about their struggles to attain their desired standard of living. Regarding health outcomes, significantly more refugees (23%) had stunted growth when compared with immigrants (5%). Older children, those with better-educated parents, and those who consumed a poorer-quality diet were at a higher risk of being overweight or obese. Sixty percent of refugees and 42% of immigrants had high blood cholesterol. Significant health concerns for refugee children include stunting and high blood cholesterol levels, and emerging trends indicate that older immigrant children from privileged backgrounds in low-income countries may be more at risk of overweight and obesity. A variety of pathways related to their families' conceptualization of life in Canada and the social structures that limit progress to meeting their goals likely influence the development of health inequity among refugee and immigrant children. Public health initiatives should address these health inequities among newcomer families.

The aim of this review is to provide a scientific update on evidence related to the biological and psycho-social health benefits of physical activity in school-aged children and youth. To accomplish this aim, the first part of the paper reviews existing physical activity guidelines for school-aged children and youth, with an emphasis placed on how Canada’s guidelines compare and contrast with those of other countries and organizations. The paper then provides an overview of physical activity levels of Canadian children and youth, which indicates that few Canadian youngsters meet current physical activity recommendations. The next section of the paper summarizes the literature that informs how much physical activity is required to promote health and well-being in children and youth. The paper then provides suggestions on modifications that could be made to Canada’s physical activity guidelines for children and youth. Specifically, consideration should be given to setting both minimal (>=60 min/d) and optimal (up to several hours per day) physical activity targets. The final section identifies future research needs. In this section, a need is noted for comprehensive dose-response studies of physical activity and health in the paediatric age group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review of the literature provides an update on the scientific biological and psychosocial bases for Canada’s physical activity guide for healthy active living, with particular reference to the effect of physical activity on the health of adults aged 20-55 years. Existing physical activity guidelines for adults from around the world are summarized briefly and compared with the Canadian guidelines. The descriptive epidemiology of physical activity and inactivity in Canada is presented, and the strength of the relationship between physical activity and specific health outcomes is evaluated, with particular emphasis on minimal and optimal physical activity requirements. Finally, areas requiring further investigation are highlighted. Summarizing the findings, Canadian and most international physical activity guidelines advocate moderate-intensity physical activity on most days of the week. Physical activity appears to reduce the risk for over 25 chronic conditions, in particular coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, breast cancer, colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis. Current literature suggests that if the entire Canadian population followed current physical activity guidelines, approximately one third of deaths related to coronary heart disease, one quarter of deaths related to stroke and osteoporosis, 20% of deaths related to colon cancer, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes, and 14% of deaths related to breast cancer could be prevented. It also appears that the prevention of weight gain and the maintenance of weight loss require greater physical activity levels than current recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]