Physician Longitudinal Relationship between Participation in Physical Activity and Health

Health production models include participation in physical activity as an input. We investigate the longitudinal relationship between participation in physical activity and health outcomes using a random effects probit model and a dynamic unobserved effect probit model. Estimates based on data from 8 cycles of the Canadian National Population Health Survey (NPHS) indicate lagged participation in physical activity has a modest negative effect on the incidence of high blood pressure, ulcers, arthritis, and heart disease. Lagged participation in physical activity has a relatively large negative effect on the probability of being in fair or poor health self-reported health.