Let us talk about physical activity.
Recently Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation released a recreation survey and the results are concerning.
The survey, which polled more than 800 people from across the province showed that approximately 1/3 or 32 per cent of Saskatchewan residents are not physically active, and nearly 1/2 or 46 per cent consider themselves somewhat active.
This is extremely concerning to me.
With obesity rates on the rise we should be looking to be more physically active not less so.
According to an Overweight and Obesity in SK (2013-2014) report filed by the Government of Saskatchewan three in five Saskatchewan residents 18 years and older were overweight or obese based on the Body Mass Index.
Now I will be the first to admit that I do not fully buy into the BMI, as I find their ideas of overweight to be excessive.
According to the BMI I am overweight, and when I tell people that they look at me like they have just seen a ghost.
However, it does provide a great basis for which to start.
The troubling sign is according to BMI Saskatchewan is actually significantly higher than the national average for overweight and obesity.
Yet here we are discovering that almost one third of all residents are not physically active.
How are we going to improve that rate if we do not become more active?
To make matters worse only a small percentage, 17 to be precise, find themselves to be very active.
Activity should be something we strive for.
Some of the blame can fall at the government’s feet as well.
We have a nationally funded organization called ParticipACTION whose goal is to help people of all ages make sitting less of and moving more of a priority.
What exactly are they doing if one third of Saskatchewan is not active?
They need to do more to help make those people more active.
But to be honest sitting here and blaming the government is taking the easy way out.
Physical activity is easy, we should not need to have government organizations telling us how to be active.
Activity is as simple as pushing a lawn mower, or going for a walk or run, or going swimming.
It is time we stand up and make activity more of a priority and for those who do not.
Let us try to help motivate them to make that change.
