Understanding Physical Activity Patterns of Rural Canadian Children

Abstract

The purpose of this cross sectional study was to explore the physical activity patterns of a group of rural children living in Saskatchewan, Canada. Of the 103 participants (aged 8-13 years), 53.7% met the national guideline for the amount of physical activity required to achieve optimal health benefits. Children’s involvement in out of school organized physical activities, (e.g. baseball, soccer, dance) was associated with whether or not they met the guideline. There was no statistically significant association between the children’s physical activity and their participation in physical activities in school, television watching behavior, or their parents’ educational levels. Results suggest that many rural children in Saskatchewan are not physically active enough for health benefits and several factors can potentially influence the physical activity of this group of children. Further exploration of such factors may assist families, communities, schools, and health professionals in promoting physical activity in this population.