A mix of real and perceived barriers contribute to shortened lifespan

Ottawa – November 29, 2011.

Canadians are so focused on the here and now that they are losing out on the opportunity to live a full and healthy life, warns the Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF). Its new survey[1] of of more than 2,000 adults found that even though Canadians know how to protect their heart health, the majority can’t or won’t commit the time to do so.

“Eight out of 10 Canadians know that heart disease and stroke can be prevented, postponed or treated by making healthy lifestyle choices but they are focusing on the barriers rather than the opportunities,” says David Sculthorpe, CEO, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

“Three-quarters said they would be more active and over half said they would eat healthier meals if they could. And one of the leading barriers that keeps them from following through? Time,” Sculthorpe said.

Time Barriers to Physical Activity

• Almost half of Canadians (46%) cite long work days and lack of time as a reason for not getting active on a regular basis.
• Between work, family and other obligations, 44% say they have no time for regular physical activity.
• And, almost a third of respondents (31%) say the time they would like to spend being physically active, they instead spend commuting. 

Time Barriers to Healthy Eating

• Forty-one per cent of respondents say healthy meals take too long to prepare.
• More than half (51%) say too many fast food outlets in their community lack healthy choices.
• Seven in 10 say restaurants don’t have enough fruit and vegetable options.

Benefits of Finding Time

“The challenge of finding time is a reality for most working Canadians, or those with competing obligations,” says Dr. Abramson. “But tackling the time dilemma is absolutely critical. The disturbing statistics tell the tale: One in three Canadian deaths is from heart disease and stroke, and it is the number one killer of women. We must make the effort to find time now to do the things that will give us the greatest health benefits.”

Barriers to Healthier Living: Are They Real or Perceived?

Lack of time: Almost half (46%) of survey respondents say they don’t have enough time to squeeze exercise into a busy day, and that healthy meals take too long to prepare, with 31% of employed people blaming commute times.

Reality Check

“I’m one of the lucky ones,” says real estate agent Arul Myles Mylvaganam. “My diagnosis of heart disease was the wake-up call I needed to make time for my health. I know how difficult it is to find time to be active, but I’m finding simple solutions that are making a difference. I believe that prevention is the best medicine.”

A Healthy Future

The Foundation has set an ambitious goal to reduce death from heart disease and stroke by 25 per cent by 2020. “That’s a big goal, and we’re only going to get there by championing a movement to get Canadians to act and be their own health advocates,” says David Sculthorpe, CEO of HSFC. “As we approach our 60th anniversary, we are taking stock. For six decades we have supported Canadians in living longer, healthier lives. But, with one in three Canadian deaths due to heart disease and stroke, our work is clearly not done. And we’re committed to reducing the toll of these diseases on Canadians’ lives.”