The relevance of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals in the promotion of sport, physical activity, and recreation in Canada.

Canada is unique in that it has established four national strategies in support of sport, physical activity, and/or recreation (SPAR). Though some of these strategies identify potential social and environmental correlates of SPAR, and articulate societal outcomes such as changes in behaviour and health, there are no explicit links to larger global initiatives such as the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Given that countries are expected to propose a plan for addressing the 17 SDGs, and that obvious overlap exists between several of the proposed development goals and SPAR, Canada should consider whether common indicators can be identified across these strategies and the SDGs simultaneously to facilitate more efficient and effective action.

Progress in physical activity research, policy, and surveillance in Canada: The global observatory for physical activity - GoPA!

Background: The purpose of this paper is to examine the evolution of physical activity research and the comprehensiveness of national physical activity policies and surveillance systems in Canada.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted by the Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA! ) on physical activity and health publications between 1950 and 2019. Findings from Canada were extracted and included in the present analysis.

The 2022 ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth: Focus on the COVID-19 pandemic impact and equity-deserving groups.

Introduction: The ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth is the most comprehensive national assessment of physical activity and related behaviors, characteristics, and opportunities for children and youth. The 2022 Report Card assigned grades based on data gathered during the COVID-19 pandemic to reflect this extraordinary time-period in Canada. Further, while not graded, efforts were made to summarize key findings for early years children and those identifying as: having a disability, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ+, newcomers to Canada, racialized, or girls.

Expert Appraisal of the 2022 Canadian Para Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents With Disabilities.

This report provides an expert appraisal of the Canadian Para Report Card on physical activity (PA) for children and adolescents with disabilities. Thirteen indicators were graded by a panel of researchers, representatives from disability and PA organizations, and parents of children and adolescents with disabilities using benchmarks of the Global Matrix 4.0 and previous Canadian PA Report Cards.

Heterogeneous contributions of change in population distribution of body mass index to change in obesity and underweight.

From 1985 to 2016, the prevalence of underweight decreased, and that of obesity and severe obesity increased, in most regions, with significant variation in the magnitude of these changes across regions. We investigated how much change in mean body mass index (BMI) explains changes in the prevalence of underweight, obesity, and severe obesity in different regions using data from 2896 population-based studies with 187 million participants. Changes in the prevalence of underweight and total obesity, and to a lesser extent severe obesity, are largely driven by shifts in the distribution of BMI, with smaller contributions from changes in the shape of the distribution.

Awareness of ParticipACTION among Canadian adults: a seven-year cross-sectional follow-up.

Introduction: In this cross-sectional follow-up study, we explored Canadian's awareness of ParticipACTION and their levels of physical activity (PA) after seven years of campaigns.

Methods: A population-based survey was conducted with 7282 adults over a period of 14 months from February 2014 to May 2015. The survey consisted of questions on the 2014-2015 Physical Activity Monitor relating to awareness and knowledge of ParticipACTION.

CANPLAY study: Secular trends in steps/day amongst 5-19year-old Canadians between 2005 and 2014.

Introduction: The Canadian Physical Activity Levels Among Youth (CANPLAY) study collected pedometer data from eight surveys between 2005 and 2014, making it a unique database of objective population physical activity surveillance. The purpose of this study was to describe secular physical activity trends for 5-19year olds.

Methods: Canadian children from nationally representative samples (10,000 recruited, n≅5500 per survey) were mailed a pedometer kit, asked to wear the pedometer for 7 consecutive days, log steps daily, then return the log by mail.

Independent and combined effects of physical activity and body mass index on the development of Type 2 Diabetes - a meta-analysis of 9 prospective cohort studies.

Background: The aim of this harmonized meta-analysis was to examine the independent and combined effects of physical activity and BMI on the incidence of type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Our systematic literature review in 2011 identified 127 potentially relevant prospective studies of which 9 fulfilled the inclusion criteria (total N = 117,878, 56.2 % female, mean age = 50.

An Evaluation of the My ParticipACTION Campaign to Increase Self-Efficacy for Being More Physically Active.

The objective of the My ParticipACTION campaign was to inspire Canadian adults to increase their physical activity through messaging that was relevant, engaging, and designed to build self-efficacy to be more active. This research examined the communication effects of the campaign according to the a priori Hierarchy of Effects Model (saliency → cognitive engagement → self-efficacy to become more active → trial behavior) and investigated how these effects related to overall self-efficacy for physical activity, intention to be active, and current activity level. Participants (N = 1,110) were recruited from an existing panel of Canadian adults 18 years and older and completed a short online questionnaire about the potential communication effects.

Are we driving our kids to unhealthy habits? Results of the active healthy kids Canada 2013 report card on physical activity for children and youth.

This article examines the time trends in patterns of school travel mode among Canadian children and youth to inform the Active Transportation (AT) indicator of the 2013 Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth. The AT grade was assigned based on a comprehensive synthesis of the 2000 and 2010 Physical Activity Monitor studies from the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute and the 1992, 1998, 2005, and 2010 General Social Survey from Statistics Canada. The results showed that in 2013, AT was graded a D, because less than half of Canadian children and youth used only active modes of transportation to get to and from school.

Relationship between parent and child pedometer-determined physical activity: a sub-study of the CANPLAY surveillance study.

Background: Understanding parental influences on their children's physical activity (PA) provides insight into developing effective family-based interventions. This study examines whether children's objectively monitored PA is associated with that of their parents.

Methods: Participants (children and parents) were recruited to a sub-study of the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute's annual Canadian Physical Activity Levels among Youth (CANPLAY) surveillance study.

CANPLAY pedometer normative reference data for 21,271 children and 12,956 adolescents.

Purpose: The mean expected values of pedometer-determined steps per day for children and adolescents have been derived primarily from isolated studies on small or specific populations. The purpose of this study is to provide sex- and age-specific normative values so that researchers, clinicians/practitioners, other childcare workers, and families can compare children's and adolescents' pedometer-determined data to that of their peers.

Methods: Data were collected between 2005 and 2011 on 21,271 children 5-12 yr and 12,956 adolescents 13-19 yr.

Trends in aerobic fitness among Canadians, 1981 to 2007-2009.

Public health surveillance systems often monitor physical activity trends, but fitness assessment is relatively rare. This study investigated secular changes in aerobic fitness among Canadian adults and children. Participants aged 8-69 years were from 2 nationally representative surveys, conducted in-home in 1981 and in mobile examination centers in 2007-2009.

Evolution and devolution of national physical activity policy in Canada.

Background: Low levels of physical activity (PA) and fitness have long been a government concern in Canada; however, more than half of adults are inactive. This article examines factors influencing policy development and implementation using Canadian PA policy as a case study.

Methods: Current and historical PA policy documents were amassed from a literature review, audit of government and non government websites and from requests to government officials in each jurisdiction directly responsible for PA.

Descriptive epidemiology of youth pedometer-determined physical activity: CANPLAY.

Purpose: Objective measurement with body worn instrumentation is a preferred and increasingly common way to gather information about young people's physical activity. Measured samples have been typically small and recruited through schools. The purpose of this article was to present the descriptive epidemiology of children and youth pedometer-determined physical activity on the basis of a large national sample.

ParticipACTION: A mass media campaign targeting parents of inactive children; knowledge, saliency, and trialing behaviours.

Background: In late 2007, Canada's ParticipACTION national physical activity mass media campaign was re-launched, with an initial campaign targeting parents of elementary school-aged children. The campaign informed them about the risks of physical inactivity for children and youth. The purpose of this study was to assess campaign awareness and understanding following the campaign, and to identify whether exposure to this campaign was likely associated with behaviour change.

Process and treatment of pedometer data collection for youth: the Canadian Physical Activity Levels among Youth study.

Background: Pedometry methods for collecting data in young populations are advancing, but it is unclear how many days of data are enough for population monitoring.

Methods: Using random-digit dialing, 11,669 5- to 19-yr-olds were recruited into the Canadian Physical Activity Levels among Youth study and mailed a data collection package. Pedometers were worn for 7 d, and steps counts were logged daily.

Non-response bias in physical activity trend estimates.

Background: Increases in reported leisure time physical activity (PA) and obesity have been observed in several countries. One hypothesis for these apparently contradictory trends is differential bias in estimates over time. The purpose of this short report is to examine the potential impact of changes in response rates over time on the prevalence of adequate PA in Canadian adults.

Testing the hierarchy of effects model: ParticipACTION's serial mass communication campaigns on physical activity in Canada.

The hierarchy of effects (HOE) model is often used in planning mass-reach communication campaigns to promote health, but has rarely been empirically tested. This paper examines Canada's 30 year ParticipACTION campaign to promote physical activity (PA). A cohort from the nationally representative 1981 Canada Fitness Survey was followed up in 1988 and 2002-2004.

Canada's physical activity guides: has their release had an impact?

The purpose of this paper is to examine the reach of different versions of Canada's physical activity guide (CPAG) and their impacts, including immediate effects (awareness, knowledge, beliefs, future intention to be active, first steps towards behavioural change) and population levels of physical activity. The analysis is based on eligible adults aged 18 years and older (n = 8,892) included in the 2003 Physical Activity Monitor (PAM) survey. The 2003 PAM was a cross-sectional, telephone interview of a representative population sample.

Holiday waistline. Jolly, fit and fat: should we be singing the "Santa Too Fat Blues"?

Santa Claus's apparent weight gain, much chronicled in the popular media, raises the question of whether his jolly persona could be at risk. We investigate why Santa remains jolly, even though he is becoming obese, and what factors could be keeping him upbeat. Measures of body mass, mental health and physical activity were collected from a representative cohort of Canadian adults surveyed in 1988 and again 15 years later.

Twelve-month effects of Canada on the Move: a population-wide campaign to promote pedometer use and walking.

Canada on the Move is a national campaign to promote pedometer use and walking among adult Canadians. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the initiative's impact on sufficient walking, defined here as at least an hour daily in the week prior to the survey. Data were collected via the national Canadian Physical Activity Monitor's rolling monthly sample throughout 2004.

Proximal impact of Canada on the Move: the relationship of campaign awareness to pedometer ownership and use.

Objective: Despite increased participation in leisure-time physical activity, inactivity remains an important public health problem. This study examines the immediate impact of the Canada on the Move initiative to promote walking through pedometer use among adult Canadians.

Methods: Data from a rolling monthly sample were collected via the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute's Physical Activity Monitor between November 2003 and September 2004.

Low levels of recall among adult Canadians of the CSEP/Health Canada physical activity guidelines.

In 1998, Canadian guidelines were released to encourage sedentary adults to become more active. Representative surveys of over 4,400 Canadian adults found that unprompted recall of these guidelines was low (7.4% in 1999 and 5.