CANADIAN MEN’S HEALTH BEHAVIOUR STUDY
These are the findings of an Intensions Consulting study conducted between April 20, 2017 and April 28, 2017, on behalf of the Canadian Men’s Health
Foundation. For this study an online survey was administered with a sample of 2,000 Canadian men between the ages of 19 and 94 years. The sample was
stratified to ensure that the sample’s composition reflected the underlying distribution of the Canadian population as determined by 2016 Census data. A
traditional probability sample of comparable size would have produced results considered accurate to within plus or minus 2.2 percentage points, 19 times out of
20.
1. TOTAL HEALTH CLASSIFICATION – COMPOSITE OF MEN’S SMOKING, DRINKING, SLEEPING, EXERCISE & EATING BEHAVIOUR:
Average rate of unhealthy men (with 3-5 unhealthy behaviours): 41.5%
Highest rate of unhealthy men (with 3-5 unhealthy behaviours): SK-MB 45%
Lowest rate of unhealthy men (with 3-5 unhealthy behaviours): BC 34.7%
Ranking of locations for unhealthy men (with 3-5 unhealthy behaviours): SK-MB 45%; QC 43.5%; ON 42.2%; AB 41.9%; ATL-YT-NT-NU 39.2%; BC 34.7%
TABLE SHOWS % OF CANADIAN MEN 19+
Very Healthy (0 unhealthy behaviours)
Healthy (1 unhealthy behaviour)
Borderline (2 unhealthy behaviours)
Unhealthy (3-5 unhealthy behaviours)
Total Sample Base (N)

Canadian
Men
5.9
21.9
30.8
41.5
2,000

BC

AB

5.3
27.2
32.8
34.7

6.0
24.0
28.1
41.9

265

217

LOCATION
SK-MB
ON
5.3
5.9
16.0
22.1
33.6
29.8
45.0
42.2
131

768

QC
6.5
20.6
29.4
43.5

ATL-YT-NT-NU
5.6
16.8
38.5
39.2

476

143

2. CIGARETTE SMOKING BEHAVIOUR:
Average rate of unhealthy cigarette smoking: 19.6%
Highest rate of unhealthy cigarette smoking: SK-MB 23.7%
Lowest rate of unhealthy cigarette smoking: BC 12.5%
Ranking of locations for unhealthy cigarette smoking: SK-MB 23.7%; QC 21.6%; ON 20.2%; AB 19.8%; ATL-YT-NT-NU 18.2%; BC 12.5%
TABLE SHOWS % OF CANADIAN MEN 19+
Unhealthy Cigarette Smoking
Healthy Cigarette Non/Ex-Smoking
Total Sample Base (N)

Canadian
Men
19.6
80.5
2,000

RESEARCH

I

BC
12.5
87.5

AB
19.8
80.2

265

217

PSYCHOLOGY

I

LOCATION
SK-MB
ON
23.7
20.2
76.3
79.8
131

STRATEGY

768

QC
21.6
78.4

ATL-YT-NT-NU
18.2
81.8

476

143

 3. ALCOHOL DRINKING BEHAVIOUR: AUDIT-C ALCOHOL SCREENING TOOL
Average rate of unhealthy alcohol drinking: 38.7%
Highest rate of unhealthy alcohol drinking: QC 43.1%
Lowest rate of unhealthy alcohol drinking: SK-MB 33.6%
Ranking of locations for unhealthy alcohol drinking: QC 43.1%; AB 42.4%; BC 37.4%; ON 36.7%; ATL-YT-NT-NU 35.7%; SK-MB 33.6%
TABLE SHOWS % OF CANADIAN MEN 19+
Unhealthy Alcohol Drinking
Healthy Alcohol Drinking
Total Sample Base (N)

Canadian
Men
38.7
61.4
2,000

BC
37.4
62.6

AB
42.4
57.6

265

217

LOCATION
SK-MB
ON
33.6
36.7
66.4
63.3
131

768

QC
43.1
56.9

ATL-YT-NT-NU
35.7
64.3

476

143

QC
52.9
47.1

ATL-YT-NT-NU
57.3
42.7

476

143

4. SLEEPING BEHAVIOUR:
Average rate of unhealthy sleeping: 53.9%
Highest rate of unhealthy sleeping: ATL-YT-NT-NU 57.1%
Lowest rate of unhealthy sleeping: BC 52.1%
Ranking of locations for unhealthy sleeping: ATL-YT-NT-NU 57.3%; AB 57.1%; ON 53.6%; QC 52.9%; SK-MB 52.7%; BC 52.1%
TABLE SHOWS % OF CANADIAN MEN 19+
Unhealthy Sleeping
Healthy Sleeping (7-9hrs)
Total Sample Base (N)

Canadian
Men
53.9
46.2
2,000

RESEARCH

I

BC
52.1
47.9

AB
57.1
42.9

265

217

PSYCHOLOGY

I

LOCATION
SK-MB
ON
52.7
53.6
47.3
46.4
131

STRATEGY

768

 5. EXERCISE BEHAVIOUR: GODIN’S LEISURE-TIME EXERCISE QUESTIONAIRRE
Average rate of unhealthy exercise: 48.9%
Highest rate of unhealthy exercise: SK-MB 55%
Lowest rate of unhealthy exercise: AB 39.6%
Ranking of locations for unhealthy exercise: SK-MB 55%; ATL-YT-NT-NU 51.7%; ON 50.7%; QC 49.2%; BC 46%; AB 39.6%
TABLE SHOWS % OF CANADIAN MEN 19+
Unhealthy Exercise
Healthy Exercise (150+ Minutes)
Total Sample Base (N)

Canadian
Men
48.9
51.2
2,000

BC
46.0
54.0

AB
39.6
60.4

265

217

LOCATION
SK-MB
ON
55.0
50.7
45.0
49.3
131

768

QC
49.2
50.8

ATL-YT-NT-NU
51.7
48.3

476

143

QC
59.9
40.1

ATL-YT-NT-NU
59.4
40.6

476

143

6. EATING BEHAVIOUR: YOUCHECK DIET SCORING
Average rate of unhealthy eating: 61.8%
Highest rate of unhealthy eating: SK-MB 68.7%
Lowest rate of unhealthy eating: BC 58.9%
Ranking of locations for unhealthy eating: SK-MB 68.7%; ON 62.9%; AB 62.7%; QC 59.9%; ATL-YT-NT-NU 59.4%; BC 58.9%
TABLE SHOWS % OF CANADIAN MEN 19+
Unhealthy Eating
Healthy Eating
Total Sample Base (N)

Canadian
Men
61.8
38.3
2,000

RESEARCH

I

BC
58.9
41.1

AB
62.7
37.3

265

217

PSYCHOLOGY

I

LOCATION
SK-MB
ON
68.7
62.9
31.3
37.1
131

STRATEGY

768