Canadians drop the ball on kids getting enough physical activity, report says
Canadians are not up to par when it comes to ensuring their kids are getting enough exercise, according to a recent report.
Non-for-profit PartcipACTION released this year's report card on youth physical health, indicating a concerning downward trend.
Researchers found children and youth in Canada were less active than in 2020, giving a D grade for overall physical activity, downgraded from the D+ in 2020.
The report implies that 28 per cent of kids get the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.
"It's probably not a surprise why we've seen that decline given the last two years, the opportunities to get active were removed. Schools shifted to a virtual setting. We were heavily reliant on screens, more so than usual in regards to how we were learning," says ParticipAction's Scientific Director, Dr. Leigh Vanderloo.
Not only has screen use increased for education purposes, but only 18 per cent of kids hit the daily recommended two-hour cap for recreational screen time, resulting in an F for sedentary behaviour on the report card.
"It's really important that we start to look at ways on how we can start replacing screen use and time spent engaging on-screen use with other forms of recreation, even reading," says Dr.Vanderloo.
She recommends that adults and parents look at their screen use habits, so it's not just on the child.
"Are we on screens a lot at home? Do we have screens in the bedroom? Do we allow screens at the dinner table," she adds.
Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital's Chief of Neonatal & Paediatric Medicine, Dr. Ryan Smith, says insufficient physical activity can pose serious health risks in children.
"Increased obesity and overweight rates in childhood population, including hypertension, high blood pressure, risk of Type 2 Diabetes which has its own complications, increased cholesterol and liquid levels," says Dr.Smith.
Dr. Vanderloo says it's also essential to look at social barriers to health, including income, education and geography.
"To really ensure that those families and those children have the necessary supports in place to help make the healthy choice the easy choice," she adds.
However, there were some positive spots in this year's report. Dr. Vanderloo says active play and active transportation improved and that more families have embraced parks, trails and outdoor spaces.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.