Southwestern Ontarioin motion

Physical Activity Survey Report

Laura Misener, PhDDepartment of KinesiologyFaculty of Human Kinetics

University of Windsor

Survey• On-line survey (June-August 2009)• 869 useable surveys If your

kcals. are

Benefits In order to achieve these health benefits

Less than

1000

Perhaps it’s time to consider getting more physically active. (Always consult your physician before beginning any exercise regimen.)

~1000 Active enough to reduce risks of heart disease and diabetes by 20-30%.

Walk, take a yoga class, get out and garden for 30 min.,

5 days /week~1500 Maintain an existing body weight, in addition to

reducing risks of heart disease and diabetes.Go jogging, biking, or play soccer for 45 min., 5 days /

week~2000 Long and short term weight loss, as well as

significantly reducing risks of heart disease and diabetes.

Run or play some volleyball with friends for 50 min. every day of the week

Notes on Methodology

• People are likely to overestimate their physical activity levels by as much as 30%.

• The majority of participants had incomes above $60,000 and had graduated from University.

• Seasonal effects due to data collection in the summer months.

• Computer skills and access to the internet.• Unlikelihood of inactive individuals filling out a

physical activity survey.

Results – Overall by Gender

14%8% 9%

3%10% 9%

68%

80%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

% o

f Pop

ulat

ion

< 1000 1000 to 1499 1500 to 1999 > 2000

kcals per Week

% Meeting ACSM Physical Activity Guidelines by Gender

Female

Male

Results – Overall by Age

17%

38%

22%

13%

6%

16%

31%

23%

20%

7%

17%

24%

32%

17%

5%

18%

24%

22%

24%

10%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

% o

f Pop

ulat

ion

< 1000 1000 to 1499 1500 to 1999 > 2000

kcals per Week

% Meeting ACSM Physical Activity Guidelines by Age

18 - 29

30 - 40

41 - 49

50 - 59

60+

Results – Overall by Income

2%3%

5%0.12%

2%3% 0.92%

1%

6% 5%

18%

39%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

% o

f Pop

ulat

ion

< 1000 1000 to 1499 1500 to 1999 > 2000

kcals per Week

% Meeting ACSM Physical Activity Guidelines by Income

> $30,000

$30,000 - $60,000

< $60,000

Wal

k O

utdo

ors,

75%

Vac

uum

, 55%

Gar

den,

50%

Mow

, 36%

Stre

tch,

35%

Run

Out

door

s, 2

8%

Bik

e, 2

7%

Wal

k In

door

s, 2

3%

Oth

er O

utdo

ors,

23%

Use

Tre

adm

ill, 2

2%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

% o

f Pop

ulat

ion

Activities

% Windsor & Essex County's Most Frequent Activities

Results- Activities

Results - Walking

25%

31%28%

52%

44%45%

13%13% 13%10%

13%14%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

% o

f Pop

ulat

ion

<1 hour 1 - 3 hours 3 - 5 hours >5 hours

Hours per Week

% Walking on Weekdays by Region

Windsor & Essex County

Chatham & Kent County

Sarnia & Lambton County

61%

55%

50%

33%

38%43%

5% 7% 6% 1% 0% 1%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

% o

f Pop

ulat

ion

<1 hour 1 - 3 hours 3 - 5 hours >5 hours

Hours per Week

% Walking on Weekends by Region

Windsor & Essex County

Chatham & Kent County

Sarnia & Lambton County

21% 19%

14%

59%

48%

56%

21%

28%31%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%%

of P

opul

atio

n

none 0 to 4 hours 4+ hours

Time in Hours per Week

% Walking to Work by Region

Windsor & Essex County

Chatham & Kent County

Sarnia & Lambton County

73%

67%64%

21%24%

28%

5%8% 6%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

% o

f Pop

ulat

ion

none 0 to 4 hours 4+ hoursTime in Hours per Week

% Biking to Work by Region

Windsor & Essex County

Chatham & Kent County

Sarnia & Lambton County

Results – Active Transportation

17%

12.50%

17%

29%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

% o

f Pop

ulat

ion

Context

% Who People Participate With

With others, structured setting

With others, unstructured setting

Alone, others around

Completely alone

Results- Participation

Conclusions

• Although 72% of survey respondents aged 18 and over indicate that they exercise regularly, our survey results suggests that only about 37% are likely exercising enough to actually realize the most significant levels of health benefits.

• ~25% that are doing minimal to no physical activity resulting in a number of potential health problems

Laura Misener, PhDDepartment of KinesiologyFaculty of Human Kinetics

University of Windsor

Southwestern Ontarioin motion

Physical Activity Survey Report