Physical activity and immigrant status -: Evidence from the Canadian Community Health Survey

Background: The immigrant population in Canada is diverse and growing, yet little is known about their physical activity behaviour and how it changes as they adapt to a Canadian lifestyle. This study extends the surveillance of physical activity in Canada to include the influence of time since immigration within and between ethnic groups. Methods: Pooled data from cycles 1.1 (2000/01) and 2.1 (2003) of the cross-sectional Canadian Community Health Survey (ages 20-64 y; N=1 71,513) were used for this study. Weighted prevalences of self-reported leisure-time physical activity (>= 3 kcal center dot kg(-1) center dot day(-1) (kkd)) were calculated, and unadjusted and adjusted (age, income, education, BMI) multiple logistic regression models were used to quantify the odds of being physically active (PA) ( >= 3 kkd) by time since immigration (recent immigrant <= 10 yrs, immigrant > 1 0 yrs, non-immigrant) within and between ethnic groups,(White referent group). Results: The prevalence of recent immigrants (<= 10 yrs) being PA ( >= 3 kkd) by ethnicity was: White (21%), Other (19%), Bilack (19%), Latin American (17%), West Asian/Arab (16%), East/Southeast Asian (14%), South Asian (11%). Recent immigrant Black men and White women had the highest prevalence of being PA (M=27%, F=18%) while South Asian men and women had the lowest prevalence (M=14%, F=9%). There is a gradient in the prevalence of being PA with recent immigrants (16%) < immigrants (20%) < nonimmigrants (24%). Ethnic differences in the prevalence of being PA by time since immigration show similar patterns for men and women. Controlling for age, income, education and-BMI had only small effects on the odds of being physical active across ethnicities and immigrant status. Conclusion: These results suggest that physical activity levels vary according to immigrant status and self-ascribed ethnicity in Canadian adults. Strategies to promote physical activity and prevent physical inactivity should consider both ethnicity and time since immigration.