Trends in physical activity among Canadian adults from 2007 to 2024.

In 2022-2024, 46% of Canadian adults were meeting the physical activity recommendation of 150 minutes per week of MVPA.

• Data came from the Canadian Health Measures Survey, accelerometer-measured MVPA.
• The study used seven survey cycles spanning 2007 to 2024.
• Adults aged 18 to 79 were examined in three age groups (18-39, 40-59, 60-79) and by sex.

Among the 54% of adults not meeting the recommendation, the group splits evenly between those close to the recommendation and those far from it.

• Approximately 27% of all adults need 5-10 more minutes per day of physical activity to reach the recommendation.
• Another 27% accumulate less than 10 minutes per day of physical activity.
• The study reports adherence to targets below the 150 min/week recommendation to profile adults approaching it.

Age was significantly associated with MVPA, with older adults accumulating fewer minutes per day than 18- to 39-year-olds.

• 60- to 79-year-olds accumulated 11.8 fewer minutes of MVPA per day (-11.8 min/day).
• 40- to 59-year-olds accumulated 4.0 fewer minutes per day (-4.0 min/day).
• Estimates came from survey-weighted linear regression with 18- to 39-year-olds as the reference.

Sex was significantly associated with MVPA, with females accumulating fewer minutes than males.

• Females accumulated 5.5 fewer minutes of MVPA per day than males (-5.5 min/day).

Step counts were lower among the oldest age group and among females.

• 60- to 79-year-olds took 1,272 fewer steps per day than 18- to 39-year-olds.
• Females took 612 fewer steps per day than males.
• Adherence to a range of step count targets is also presented.

The study examined temporal trends in accelerometer-measured MVPA and step counts across 2007 to 2024 using survey-weighted linear regression.

• Seven cycles of the Canadian Health Measures Survey were used.
• Regression summarized trends over time and average differences between cycles, age groups, and sexes.