Getting Active for Life

Your guide to an active lifestyle

Are you active enough? Do you walk, bike or jog a half hour every day? Or go to the community centre for a workout? Choose the stairs instead of the elevator at work? Rake the lawn in autumn? If you don’t, you have lots of company.

Many Canadians of all ages aren’t active enough to achieve good health. But being a couch potato is not a harmless lifestyle choice. It’s a serious health risk. Research shows that inactive Canadians face an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other serious diseases. Lack of physical activity has reached epidemic proportions. Luckily, the solution is just a brisk walk, a bike ride or a dance class away. Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines recommend that adults should accumulate at least 150 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity every week, in bouts of 10 minutes or more.

Take the first step towards a longer, healthier life!

Download it now (PDF, 1.4 MB).

Call 1-888-HSF-INFO (1-888-473-4636) for a free copy of this publication or to find health information from the Heart and Stroke Foundation on lifestyle, stroke and heart disease, or how you can offer support in your community.

Last reviewed: April 2011.