Prevalence and correlates of sedentary behaviour in an Atlantic Canadian population-based cohort Cindy Forbes Click here to see the full brief Sitting time (i.e., sedentary behaviour) has been shown to be a risk factor for a number of chronic diseases and higher mortality, independent of physical activity levels. Despite the health risk, research suggests that the majority of the Canadian population spend about 10 hours per day sedentary. The Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS), first launched in 2007, collects health information via household interviews and direct measures. A main goal of the CHMS is to allow researchers to determine relationships between disease risk factors and health status, and to explore emerging public health issues among Canadians. Research has shown that in order to change behaviour, targeting interventions to specific groups of the population may prove more effective. Examining the correlates of sitting time among the Atlantic PATH cohort will allow us to determine what groups are most sedentary and may benefit from targeted interventions. The aim of this report is to examine the demographic and medical correlates associated with sitting time in a cohort of Atlantic Canadians.

The Association between Physical Activity and Self-Rated Health in Atlantic Canadians Yunsong Cui, Cindy Forbes, Ellen Sweeney, Michael Yu, Vanessa DeClercq, & Melanie Keats Click here to see the full brief Biological, psychological and social factors all influence an individual’s perception of their health status. Self-rated health (SRH) is a subjective measure of this perception, which utilizes a four- or five-point scale, ranging from “poor” to “excellent.” SRH is well-established in the field of public health; it can be used as a predictive indicator of a population’s overall health and well-being, including future morbidity, mortality, functional decline, and utilization of health care services. Previous research has demonstrated the relationship between lower levels of SRH and higher rates of mortality from chronic disease, including diabetes mellitus. Engaging in regular levels of physical activity (PA) can result in improvements in overall health, and reduce the risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle. Increased PA has the potential to prevent detrimental health conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and some forms of cancer. Regular PA is also positively associated with higher levels of SRH. Recognizing the benefits associated with PA and the link between PA and SRH, this research brief explored the association between PA levels and SRH among Atlantic Canadians. We also explored the impact of chronic disease status on this association.