Report Highlights

• Physical activity benefits mental health, body image and weight, physical health, school performance and skill development.
• As children have become less active, parents’ worries about safety and supervision have increased. Children have lost their ability to get around without supervision and this has led to fewer opportunities for them to be active.
• A few highlights from the Canadian and Ontario report cards follow.

Physical activity levels: “D-”

• Just 32% of Ontario children and youth take at least 13,500 steps per day – close to the new Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines.
• The Canadian report card gives children and youth an “F” for physical activity levels with only 7% of Canadian children and youth meeting Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines (60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day).

Active transportation: “C”

(This is getting from A to B using active means such as walking, cycling and skateboarding)

• When it comes to going to and from school, about half of Ontario children and youth walk or use other human-powered means of travelling.