Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation

Physical Activity

The Department of Health and Wellness funds, partners and sometimes leads research projects to assess physical activity levels and behaviours. A combination of provincial and national studies provides surveillance data to monitor changes in physical activity of the population. Other studies examine practices related to efforts in promoting physical activity.

PACY
PACY is the commonly used acronym that refers to a surveillance research series called Physical Activity Levels and Dietary Intake of Children and Youth in the Province of Nova Scotia. PACY is the primary research component to Active Kids Healthy Kids. This study monitors the physical activity levels and associated factors of young people in grades 3, 7 and 11 using both objective and self-report measures. The Department of Health and Wellness issues PACY every four years in partnership with universities.

Pacy Reports
Report on Physical Activity Levels and Dietary Intake of Children and Youth In the Province of Nova Scotia (2005-2006)

Report on Physical Activity Levels in Children and Youth in the Province of Nova Scotia (2001-2002)

Keeping Pace: This series of fact sheets highlights key findings from the Physical Activity and Dietary Intake of Children and Youth in Nova Scotia studies (PACY 2001 and 2005).

Physical Activity in Nova Scotia
(Canadian Community Health Survey)
The Government of Nova Scotia uses the Canadian Community Health Survey data from Statistics Canada to release special reports for all district health authorities in Nova Scotia. A series of reports called Physical Activity in Nova Scotia presents the physical activity levels and behaviours of Nova Scotians 12 years and older.

www.ActiveKidsNS.ca
Researchers in Nova Scotia compiled select studies to help to generate ideas and discussion. Systematic reviews identify key characteristics of successful physical activity interventions and help to develop key messages for policy and program development.

Active Healthy Kids Canada
Active Healthy Kids Canada (AHKC) hosts research articles, facts and statistics categorized by health, physical activity, family, school, community, environment and policy. AHKC releases an annual report card on physical activity for children and youth.

CAN PLAY
The Canadian Physical Activity Levels Among Youth (CAN PLAY) Survey studies current fitness and physical activity patterns of Canada's young people. 10,000 young people ages 5 to 19 were randomly selected across Canada for the 2005 study. This first nation-wide study of its kind is conducted annually until 2010. A CAN PLAY report for Nova Scotia can be downloaded here.

Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute
The Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (CFLRI) conducts research, monitors trends and makes recommendations to increase population levels of physical activity and improve the health of all Canadians.

Ipsos Reid Municipal Recreation and Fitness Survey
The Department of Health and Wellness funded this survey which collects data by telephone from 300 citizens aged 16 years or older in each participating municipality. Five municipalities were surveyed in 2008 and another seven will be participate in 2009. The survey assesses physical activity behaviours and measures satisfaction with municipal recreation services and programs.

Graphed results from five municipalities in 2008.
 

Participaction
Participaction has monthly summaries of research findings on various topics related to physical activity,
http://www.participaction.com/en-us/TheInactivityCrisis/Research Files.aspx

Physical Activity Counselling by Healthcare Professionals in Nova Scotia: The Need For a Consistent Message
Healthcare professionals were surveyed to examine their counselling practices concerning physical activity. This report led to Make a Move – a physical activity counseling program for health professionals – led by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia.