Physical Activity

What is Physical Activity?

Physical activity is any form of body movement that uses energy. It includes many different types of daily activities such as completing chores, daily movement, sports, and recreation. Participation in physical activity can happen in a variety of environments (e.g., home/work/community; indoors/outdoors) and contexts (e.g., leisure, transportation, occupation, household) across all seasons.

Guidelines on Physical Activity 

Health Canada recommends that adults limit long periods of physical inactivity and practice participating in a minimum of 2.5 hours (150 minutes) of physical activity weekly to attain optimal health benefits.  


I am interested in understanding young adults perspectives on  the intensity of physical activity they participate in based on three categories:

Mild Activity
This activity needs very little effort and does not cause you to sweat. Examples include: casual walking, light stretching, or yoga.

Moderate Activity
This activity needs some effort and you may breathe harder or increase your heart rate. However, it is not exhausting and you should be able to talk while doing the activity. Examples include: jogging, dancing, or light yard work.

Strenuous Activity
This activity is intense and requires a lot of energy. It will cause you to breathe hard/fast and your heart rate is increased. You may be unable to say more than a few words without stopping to catch your breath. Examples include: running, interval training, or heavy yard work such as landscaping.