31/03/2026
Ottawa, Ontario — Tuesday March 31, 2026
Regular physical activity is essential for preventing chronic disease, but not all Canadians have the same chance to be active.
A new national study led by Jean-Philippe Chaput examined how socioeconomic factors affect whether Canadians are meeting physical activity recommendations, and how activity levels differ across groups.
Using data from more than 44,000 participants in the 2021 Canadian Community Health Survey, the research team analyzed physical activity patterns among youth and adults. The study looked at time spent being active through recreation, school, work, transportation, and household activities, applying a health equity lens to compare differences by gender, income, and education.
The study found several clear differences: boys were more likely than girls to meet daily activity recommendations, and youth from higher income households reported more recreational physical activity. Similar patterns were seen in adults, with men and those with higher income or education levels being more active overall.
These findings highlight the need for new ways to reduce social barriers to physical activity – helping ensure all children, teens, and families have equitable opportunities to move and stay healthy.
“By looking at physical activity through a health equity lens, we can better understand which groups have fewer opportunities to be active. The next step is to use this evidence to design targeted interventions that close these gaps.” – JP Chaput