Global cost of physical activity

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), global physical inactivity costs an estimated US$54 billion in direct health care and another US$14 billion to lost productivity. The WHO Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour, which complement Canadian physical activity guidelines, emphasize that everyone, of all ages and abilities, can be physically active and that every type…

Barriers to participation in physical activity for Shibogama First Nations

Project summary This research examined the barriers to participation in sport and physical activity for Shibogama First Nations communities in northwestern Ontario. Aboriginal peoples face significant barriers to participation in physical activity in comparison to Euro-Canadians or other minority populations. This collaborative research project qualitatively investigated how sport and physical activity are connected to both…

Workouts with oomph

As we age, research suggests we need to “add oomph to our workouts.” Older adults that regularly engaged in cycling walked more efficiently than those whose primary exercise was slow walking.

Get active as a family

Family support is positively associated with children’s physical activity levels. Parents and guardians can facilitate physical activity by encouraging, watching, role modelling, co-participating and attending physical activity events with their kids. Being active as a family encourages life-long physical activity and increases feelings of social support, connectedness and attachment – all important for good mental…

Understanding barriers to sport in Hamilton, ON

Project summary This study uses a random group of adults in Hamilton, ON to determine what barriers to sport are preventing adults from being active through sport. The research using data from a questionnaire that was part of a larger study called the Hamilton Active Living Study or HALStudy. This questionnaire data was used to…

Team-based incentives

Participants using a physical activity app with team-based incentives accumulated more steps per day during a 12-week intervention period compared to matched controls. The findings offer further evidence that even very small incentives (users earned on average $3.60 CAD over 12 weeks) can be used to influence behaviour change and increase physical activity.

Tips to engage adults with intellectual and developmental disability in sport and physical activity

Exercise leads to many benefits for individuals with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD), including those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These include improved physical and mental health, increased community engagement, and, amongst individuals with ASD, a decrease in repetitive behaviours that often result in functional and social impairment. The Adapted Physical Exercise (APEX) Research…

Building meaningful programs for indigenous youth

Project summary The main purpose of this research program was to help build more meaningful and relevant sport and recreation-based programs for Indigenous youth through the examination of a series of multidisciplinary analyses and case studies (mainly the Promoting Life-skills in Aboriginal Youth [PLAY] program from Right To Play, Project George, and Milo Pimatisiwin from…

Trickle down effect? Exploring the influence of the Olympic Games on preschooler sport participation and development

Background / Context / Objective The benefits of sport participation among youth are well recognized, yet little work has focused on understanding sport participation among very young children, despite growing participation at increasingly early ages. The first objective of this project was to explore sport participation and development among preschoolers. Findings suggest that while parents…

Survey on participation in amateur soccer in Canada

Project abstract In general, sport is seen as a powerful contributor to social and personal development (Sport Canada, 2002). The benefits of physical activity and sport have been the subject of numerous studies (Gendron et al., 2005; Parfitt & Eston, 2005). Nonetheless, the number of young North Americans who play sports has been decreasing for…