The Economic Choice of Participation and Time Spent in Physical Activity and Sport in Canada

The health benefits of participation in physical activity are well documented, yet the prevalence of meeting physical activity guidelines remains low. We examine the determinants of participation in physical activity in Canada by estimating double hurdle models of participation and time spent using data from the 2001 Canadian Community Health Survey (CHHS). We find higher income is associated with a higher probability of participating and less time spent in widely practiced sports like running and swimming, but the size of the income e ffect is relatively small. The hourly wage is generally positive and significant in both the participation and time spent equations suggesting a dominating income eff ect. Distinguishing between the extensive and intensive margins of the participation decision is important for untangling the eff ects of income, age, gender and family structure on these choices.