Children aged 11, 13, and 15 years doing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily
For 2005–06, compared to other OECD* countries, Canada’s school-aged children — aged 11, 13, and 15 years — rank fairly well with regards to their level of physical activity. For example, only 13.1% of children aged 11 to 15 years participate in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week in Switzerland, whereas in Canada the rate is almost double that number (23.6%).
*OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) is an organization that acts as a meeting ground for 30 countries that believe strongly in the free market system.
Implications
Between countries, there are large differences between levels of reported daily physical activity for children aged 11, 13, and 15 years. In almost all countries, however, boys and younger children are more active.1
1Currie C, et al. (eds.) (2008). “Inequalities in Young People’s Health: Health Behaviour in School-aged Children.” International Report from the 2005/2006 Survey. WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen. Available at: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/53852/E91416.pdf – accessed on June 29, 2012.