To test the fitness of the nation, the Canadian Health Measures Survey challenged participants with a classic gym class maneuver - the partial curl-up. Both adults and youth aged 19 to 25 were tasked with completing a full set of 25.
Among adults in the CHMS, fewer than one third (31) per cent of women aged 20 to 39 completed the full 25 curl ups. Four per cent of women aged 60 to 69 could finish the set.
Men fared better, with 55 per cent of 20- to 39-year-old males able to finish the 25 curl set. Twelve per cent of 60- to 69-year-old men could do the full set.
To perform a proper partial curl-up, lie on a flat surface with your knees bent and your feet about 30 cm from your buttocks. Extend your arms on the floor along your sides. Have a partner sit behind you with hands cupped so you don't bring your head all the way down. Curl up slowly and lift your torso off the ground. Then lower back down until your head touches your partner's hands. Repeat and count how many you can do.
Participant results, study authors suggest, are woeful. See how you stack up:
Average estimate of the percentage of people, in each age group, who completed 0 partial curl-ups in a minute:
Women
Age 20 to 39: 37
Age 40 to 59: 59
Age 60 to 69: 86
Men
Age 20 to 39: 10
Age 40 to 59: 29
Age 60 to 69: 69
Average estimate of the percentage of people, in each age group, who completed between 1 and 24 partial curl-ups in a minute:
Women
Age 20 to 39: 33
Age 40 to 59: 28
Age 60 to 69: 12
Men
Age 20 to 39: 34
Age 40 to 59: 35
Age 60 to 69: 20
Average estimate of the percentage of people, in each age group, who completed 25 partial curl-ups in a minute:
Women
Age 20 to 39: 31
Age 40 to 59: 13
Age 60 to 69: 4
Men
Age 20 to 39: 55
Age 40 to 59: 36
Age 60 to 69: 12
BMI
Your body mass index is a measure of your weight and height combined and is used to help determine a person's risk of developing health problems.
Based on BMI, 19 per cent of males and 21 per cent of females aged 20 to 39 were considered obese, the survey says. At ages 60 to 69, that percentage was about a third. The average BMI rose with age, and in all age groups, the average BMI across the board was considered to be overweight, according to the World Health Organization's measurements.
What's your BMI? Enter your height and weight here to find out.