THE ISSUE
• Over half of Canada’s youth are physically inactive; 79% of youth are not active enough for optimal growth and development.
• Behaviours started in childhood and adolescence tend to carry over to adulthood; 56% of Canadian adults 20 years and older are considered physically inactive.
• Physical activity is associated with improved behaviour and cognitive functioning in youth with attention-deficit disorders and problems controlling impulsive actions.
• Students involved in school sports are less likely to drop out of school and tend to have higher educational aspirations.
STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
• 80% of students felt that emphasis is placed on student participation in competitive sports; 49% felt the same about noncompetitive sports or clubs.
• 82% of students indicate that their school has awards recognizing student participation in competitive sports; 31% felt the same about non-competitive sports or clubs.
• 67% felt that emphasis was placed on involving students in planning/organizing physical activities.
• 35% of students felt emphasis was placed on school staff being physically active.
• 78% felt that emphasis is placed on informing students about opportunities to be physically active.
• Students reported enjoying various aspects of their physical education classes:
- 35% enjoyed the variety of activities
- 29% enjoyed learning different sports
- 12% did not enjoy anything about physical education classes
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS AT KENNEBECASIS VALLEY HIGH
• Based on student reports, the following percentages of students at your school are active:
- Grade 9 – 61%
- Grade 10 – 48%
- Grade 11 – 48%
- Grade 12 – 34%
• 68% of students reported doing exercises for flexibility such as stretching and yoga, and 77% of students reported participating in strength training activities.
• 52% of students participate in physical activity in school; this illustrates the importance of school physical activity programs to your students.
• 5% of students use active transportation modes, such as cycling, walking, running or skateboarding, to get to and from school; while 82% use inactive modes, such as getting a ride or taking a bus.
• 80% of students said they did not have opportunities to be active in other classes besides Physical Education.
• 27% of students at your school take part in school-organized non-competitive activities (e.g. intramurals) (30% males and 24% females); and 45% participate in competitive (e.g. Varsity) sports (46% males and 43% females).
• 13% of students felt that there are too few competitive and non-competitive sports/clubs offered at your school; on the other hand, 2% said there are too many.
SOCIAL INFLUENCES FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
• Active students are more likely than those who are inactive to report that they have active friends. 87% of active students reported having 3 or more close friends who were also active, compared to 47% of inactive students.
• Generally, active youth are more likely to report that they have active parents. At your school, 65% of active students reported having active parents, compared to 65% of inactive students.
• Students were asked how much their parents encouraged and supported them to be physically active. 76% of students had parents who both encouraged and supported them.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
• 27% of students reported watching television/movies, surfing the internet, playing video/computer games, talking on the phone and instant messaging for more than 3 hours per day.
• 43% of students reported reading (not including for school or work) for less than one hour per week; 30% reported doing homework less than one hour per week.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTHY BODY WEIGHT
• Healthy body weight can be determined using the body mass index (BMI). BMI is a measure of a person’s weight in comparison to their height. In a national survey using measured BMI, 31% of New Brunswick youth aged 12 to 17 were considered overweight or obese.
• At your school, using self-reported data, 78% of students fall within the recommended healthy weight category for their age. 60% of students feel that their body weight is “about right”.
Schools Can Make a Difference…
Please refer to the full version of your school’s Feedback Report to see more detailed results. Your school’s Feedback Report contains innovative examples for how to involve youth, community members, parents, and staff members in physical activity initiatives.
For additional information, visit:
www.unbf.ca/education/herg
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