Leisure Time Physical Activity Levels in Immigrants by Ethnicity and Time Since Immigration to Canada: Findings from the 2011–2012 Canadian Community Health Survey

Abstract

New immigrants to Canada are mostly from Asian/South Asian countries currently experiencing low levels of physical activity (PA) and high rates of overweight/obesity. Little is known about the leisure time PA (LTPA) patterns of recent immigrants. Study sample was extracted from Canadian Community Health Survey (2011-2012). Based on reported daily energy expenditure on LTPAs over past 3months, participants were categorized as physically active, moderately active, and inactive. Likelihood of being physically inactive was estimated for recent immigrants versus established immigrants. Higher proportion of recent immigrants were inactive (60%) compared to established immigrants (53%). Adjusted models estimated a higher likelihood of inactivity among recent immigrants (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.13, 1.72) versus established immigrants. Inactivity was higher among immigrants of visible minorities, 58.8 versus 46.7% of white immigrants. Recent immigrants of visible minorities are at higher risk of being inactive. This highlights importance of developing programs to increase PA in specific groups of new immigrants.