Fit Facts

• Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include genetic predisposition, age, a centralized body fat distribution, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and physical inactivity. These risk factors tend to develop early in life and emerge in overweight young people.^{1, 2}
• "The question is no longer "can exercise/physical activity benefit the individual with Type 2 diabetes?" The answer is yes."³
• 57% of 20- to 64-year-old males in Canada are overweight; an additional 14% are considered obese.⁴
• 35% and 12% of similar-aged females in Canada are overweight and obese respectively.⁴
• Between 1981 and 1996, obesity nearly tripled in boys, and more than doubled in girls.^{4, 5}
• The prevalence estimates of obesity and diabetes in young people have risen more or less simultaneously, suggesting a link between obesity and physical inactivity.⁶
• In men with type 2 diabetes, physical activity (eg. walking) is associated with a risk reduction in the incidence of, and death from, cardiovascular disease.⁷
• "All children and adults should set a goal of accumulating at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, and preferably all, days of week."⁸
• Physical activity need not be strenuous to achieve health benefits.⁹
• Additional health benefits can be gained through greater amounts of physical activity, either by increasing the duration, intensity, or frequency. Because risk of injury increases with higher levels of physical activity, care should be taken not to engage in excessive amounts of activity.¹⁰
• Older adults, both male and female, can benefit from regular physical activity.¹¹
• Regular physical activity can help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, lose extra pounds, help control blood pressure, lessens a diabetic's need for insulin and boosts the level of "good" HDL cholesterol.⁹
• Physical activity reduces the risk of dying from coronary heart disease and of developing high blood pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes.^{9, 12}
• The majority of adolescents in Canada are not meeting the current recommendations for physical activity.¹³
• In Saskatchewan, 67% of youth aged 12-19 are not active enough for optimal growth and development.¹⁴
• The percentage of 5- to 12-year-old children in Canada who are active enough for optimal health benefits (49%) is greater than in adolescents (41%).¹⁵
• There is a decline in activity with age and grade.¹⁶
• Research has found that the more time children spend watching television, the more likely they are to become overweight. It has also been found that boys and girls are 20-25% less likely to be classified as overweight if they report 2 to 3 hours of television viewing per day and approximately 40% less likely to be classified as overweight if they report less than or equal to one hour of television viewing per day compared with those who watch four or more hours of television per day.¹⁷