title: Physical activity of Canadian children and youth: accelerometer results from the 2007 to 2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activity is an important determinant of health and fitness. This study provides contemporary estimates of the physical activity levels of Canadians aged 6 to 19 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data are from the 2007 to 2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey. The physical activity of a nationally representative sample was measured using accelerometers. Data are presented as time spent in sedentary, light, moderate and vigorous intensity movement, and in steps accumulated per day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An estimated 9% of boys and 4% of girls accumulate 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on at least 6 days a week. Regardless of age group, boys are more active than girls. Canadian children and youth spend 8.6 hours per day-62% of their waking hours-in sedentary pursuits. Daily step counts average 12,100 for boys and 10,300 for girls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on objective and robust measures, physical activity levels of Canadian children and youth are low.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute and the Health Analysis Division at Statistics Canada. rcolley@cheo.on.ca
authors.forename: Rachel C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Colley
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Garriguet
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: Cora L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Tremblay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D009043:Motor Activity; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D055815:Young Adult