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How active are children in Toronto? A comparison with accelerometry data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey
M R Stone1, G E Faulkner, R N Buliung
1School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. michelle.stone@dal.ca
Introduction:
The Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) is the most comprehensive direct health measures survey ever conducted in Canada. Results show that the majority of children and youth (93%) do not meet current physical activity recommendations for health. CHMS data have not yet been considered alongside an independent sample of Canadian youth; such a Canadian-context examination could support CHMS results and contribute to discussions regarding accelerometry data reduction protocols.
Methods:
From 2010 to 2011, valid accelerometry data were collected on 856 children living in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Where possible, data presentation and analyses were aligned with the CHMS protocol such that physical activity outcomes could be compared.
Results:
Overall, trends were similar, with some deviations likely due to contextual and sampling differences and differences in data collection/reduction protocols regarding accelerometer model selection, wear time, activity intensity thresholds and epoch.
Conclusion:
The similar trends support the notion that physical inactivity is an ongoing problem in communities across Canada.
