Fitness of Canadian children and youth: Results from the 2007 - 2009 Canadian Health Measures Survay

by Mark S. Tremblay, Margot Shields, Manon Laviolette, Cora L. Craig, Ian Janssen and Sarah Connor Gorber

Statistics Canada, Catalogue no. 82-003-XPE • Health Reports, Vol. 21, no. 1, March 2009
Fitness of Canadian children and youth • Research article
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Abstract

Background
The fitness of Canadian children and youth has not been measured in more than two decades, a period during which childhood obesity and sedentary behaviours have increased. This paper provides up-to-date estimates of the fitness of Canadians aged 6 to 19 years.
Data and methods
Data are from the 2007-2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS), the most comprehensive direct health measures survey ever conducted on a nationally representative sample of Canadians. Descriptive statistics for indicators of body composition, aerobic fitness and musculoskeletal fitness are provided by sex and age group, and comparisons are made with the 1981 Canada Fitness Survey (CFS).
Results
Fitness levels of children and youth have declined significantly and meaningfully since 1981, regardless of age or sex. Significant sex differences exist for most fitness measures.  Fitness levels change substantially between  ages 6 and 19 years. Youth aged 15 to 19 years generally have better aerobic fitness and body composition indicators than 20- to 39-year-olds.
Interpretation
This decline in fitness may result in accelerated chronic disease development, higher health care costs, and loss of future productivity.