According to the Canadian Heart Health Survey 36% of Canadian women aged 18-74 are physically inactive. Generally, Canadian women are considerably less active than men and physical inactivity increases for both sexes with age. As reported by Hennekens[1], the studies that are available report that physically active women have an approximately 60% to 75% lower risk of CHD than inactive women. Physical inactivity is a known contributor to CHD. In turn, obesity has been found to have a negative affect on several coronary risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia, and it is predictor of coronary heart disease events in both men and women[1]. The Canadian Heart Health Surveys conducted between 1986-1992, reported that 41% of Canadian women aged 18-74, of were overweight, 27% were obese, and 5% were considered massively obese[2]. These statistics are alarming considering that there has been extensive effort in promoting healthy weights for almost two decades.
_________________________________
1. Hennekens, C.H., (1998) Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease in Women. Cardiology Clinics, 16(1): 1-8.
2. MacDonald, S.M., Reeder, B., Chen, Y., Depres, J-P., (1997) Canadian Health Research Group. Obesity in Canada. CMAJ. 157(1) S3-S9.
