4 out of 5 teens aren’t getting enough physical activity in Canada – CBC

Statistics Canada found youth aged 12-17 saw significant decline in activity since 2019

Oct 21, 2025

Four out of five teenagers aren’t meeting physical activity recommendations, according to new data from Statistics Canada, and experts say without big changes, physical activity will keep losing out to screens and social media when it comes to teens.

Data released Friday found that from 2022 to 2024, only 21 per cent of youth aged 12-17 across Canada were meeting physical activity recommendations, compared to 36 per cent in the period from 2018 to 2019.

It’s the only age group to have seen significant declines in physical activity since the last data collection period.

It’s a worrying trend considering the significant influence physical activity has on kids’ development, says Travis Saunders, a professor at the University of Prince Edward Island who studies the health impacts of sedentary behaviour.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/teens-physical-activity-study-statistics-canada-9.6946105