Women are getting less exercise than men in Canada. Why some face barriers to fitness

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle.

Folu Adesanya grew up playing soccer, but these days, the demands of daily life and a high-powered job means finding time for exercise — like a long walk or attending her favourite spin class — can feel impossible.

"[Soccer] took up a lot of my time, and sometimes it makes me a bit sad to think about the shift in my level of activity from then to now," the Halifax-based lawyer says.

Meanwhile, for Allison Hodgson, fitness can feel like one more thing "on a list of things to do that never gets any shorter," as she juggles full-time school and work in British Columbia. "I'm not blind to the benefits of exercise, and I love endorphins," Hodgson adds. "But I think for me, my circumstances right now, it doesn't totally feel like my time is all my own right now."

These women aren't alone. A new Statistics Canada report shows only 45 per cent of Canadian adults are getting the recommended 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week. Moreover, women lag slightly behind men, with 38 per cent of women reaching the weekly amount versus 45 per cent of men.

The report also indicates only 32 per cent of young, single mothers met the recommendation, citing low income, smoking and abdominal obesity as risk factors.

Time is an exercise barrier

Halifax-based recreation and leisure studies professor Laurene Rehman says she and her researchers have been seeing a trend that finds many mothers schedule activities for their families where they're "not even being able to eat well or healthy themselves, and certainly not getting their own physical activity."

As Adesanya puts it: "I think there is a disproportionate amount of pressure on women or caretakers to carry these burdens that really get in the way of self care. And it can be very, very easy for somebody in a privileged position to say, 'No, get out and do this even for 30 minutes or do a home workout.'

"There's so many different reasons why people are incredibly busy and have different burdens on themselves. When you're in these positions, it can be really, really difficult to take time for yourself."

From stress relief to improved sleep, to better skin and the potential to decrease the likelihood of lifestyle-related conditions, the benefits reaped through regular exercise are well-documented and well-known. It isn't a lack of awareness that presents a barrier to moving your body.

"What we're hearing again is not so much that there's an unawareness of the importance of physical activity," Rehman tells Yahoo Canada. "In any of the different research, we're finding 100 per cent of people know the importance. It's the 'how do I actually fit it into the day?'

"I find the biggest thing is scheduling it in. We schedule everything else: We schedule kids' activities, we schedule work, we schedule meal times. But, especially for adults, we don't tend to schedule physical activity. ... It's building those opportunities into the schedule and actually timetabling them."

The Dalhousie University director of the school of health and human performance adds that a push for more active communities are key to creating healthier communities overall. That could include creating well-lit walking trails or fitness spaces that allow moms to work out while kids are in an activity.

Also, Pew Research Centre data released in April shows women in cisgender heterosexual partnerships do, on average, 3.5 more hours of household labour a week than their male partners, so seeing that work divided more evenly would create an opportunity for increased activity for women.

More than just scheduling conflicts

While finding time is perhaps the biggest barrier, it isn't the only roadblock. Hodgson notes there can be a lot of shame around exercise for many, perhaps tied to body image issues.

"The whole 'should' that is often accompanied with conversations around exercise can kind of trigger old stuff. It can be linked to all kinds of thoughts and feelings around bodies and food can be very complicated," she says. "I really don't think it's as simple as people just choosing not to exercise because they don't know how good it can be for them. I think there's probably for a lot of people, a lot of layers to it."

Adesanya adds she's proud of herself when she's able to get out and exercise, even if it's only for a short period of time. While she sometimes beats herself up about things, she says we need to "celebrate the small wins in life."

"It's so common for us to get in our own heads. To the point where we talk ourselves out of something, and I think that that's the case with exercise," she says. "And one of the things that I would just like to say to people is to just start. Because we all deserve to be in good health and good health is just so important."

Tips for fitting exercise into your life

Between work, supporting family, spending time with loved ones and trying to enjoy life, it can seem daunting trying to fit exercise into your busy schedule. Still, there are workarounds within your daily life that can help you get your body moving. Below are some tips to help fit more physical activity into your routine:

• Take your dog for a walk

• Ditch the car in favour of walking or cycling

• Opt for the stairs instead of the elevator

• Bring your kids or partner along for a walk

• Practice yoga, lift weights or jog in place while watching TV

• Use your lunch break to take a walk

• Introduce shorter exercise sessions, even if it's only 15 minutes

• Multitask when it makes sense, like a walk-and-talk work meeting

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