Family & Peers

Reference citations for all information below can be found in the complete Long-Form Report Card

Indicators

Grades

Quick Stats

Recommendations for Action

Family Physical Activity

D+

• 80% of parents say they have purchased equipment, paid a membership or fee, or paid for coaching for their kids in the last year (2010 PAM).

• 64% of parents often or very often take their kids to places where they can be active, such as a park, playground or sport facility (2010 PAM).

• 37% of parents often or very often played active games with their children in the past year (PAM 2010).

• Only 15% of Canadian adults meet the new Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults (2007-09 CHMS).

• Since the obesity epidemic is affecting both children/youth and parents, interventions should be investigated that encourage whole families to be physically active and reduce sedentary time.

• Parents should role model healthy physical activity and sedentary behaviours.

Peer Influence

INC

• In a nationally representative sample of 10- to 15-yearolds, children and youth who reported that most or all of their friends smoked or drank alcohol were much more likely to have multiple risk factors (including a high BMI, physical inactivity, sedentary behaviour, smoking, and alcohol use) that are linked to chronic diseases in later life (NLSCY).

• Given the important influence peers have on health-related behaviours, parents should talk more with their children, and encourage them to have friends who will have a positive effect on their behaviours.

• Talk about peers as both positive and negative influences on behaviour, and empower children and youth to recognize the difference.

• Build on “social influences” models, validated through tobacco prevention promotions, to address similar types of influences for physical activity.

 

Figure 18: How Often Parents Take Their Children Places Where They Can Be Physically Active (Source; 2010 PAM, CFLRI)

Figure 19: How Often Parents Place Active Games With Their Children (Source: 2010 PAM, CFLRI)