Canadians Say Thin No Longer Means Fit

When Canadians think about fitness, many look beyond body size. MedExpress surveyed 507 Canadians to understand what being fit means to them, which health markers they track, and what motivates their weight loss goals. Their answers put endurance, mobility, and flexibility at the heart of fitness, with 80% saying being fit matters more to them than how their body looks.

Key takeaways

• 56% of Canadians name cardio endurance (33%) or mobility and flexibility (23%) as the single best signal that a person is fit.
• Only 1 in 10 Canadians believes a person who is visually thin is considered fit.
• 44% of Canadians who plan to lose weight say their main goal is living a longer, healthier life, compared with 12% who say it's fitting into a smaller clothing size.
• 67% of Canadians currently track body weight, more than any other health marker.

What Canadians actually count as fit

• 56% of Canadians name cardio endurance (33%) or mobility and flexibility (23%) as the single best indicator of fitness.
• Only 1 in 10 Canadians believes a person who is visually thin is considered fit.
• 71% of Canadians agree that the idea that being thin means being fit is outdated. Women (73%) are slightly more likely than men (69%) to say so.
• 80% of Canadians say being fit matters more than how their body looks. Men (83%) are more likely than women (77%) to say so.
• 14% of Canadians say being fit matters more than other aspects of health, such as bloodwork or mental health. Men (17%) are more likely than women (12%) to say so.
• 91% of Canadians would be upset by at least one word used to describe their body. "Obese" leads at 69%, followed by "fat" (66%), "out of shape" (58%), and "overweight" (57%).
• 57% say body words are often used to shame people, and 25% say they don’t accurately describe their body.

How Canadians measure progress now

• 57% of Canadians say weight loss medications have changed what a realistic weight loss goal looks like. Women (63%) are more likely than men (50%) to say so.
• 44% of Canadians who plan to lose weight say their main goal is living a longer, healthier life, compared with 12% who say fitting into a smaller clothing size. Men (48%) are more likely than women (40%) to name a longer life, while women (16%) are more than twice as likely as men (7%) to name a smaller size.
• 30% of Canadians say strength training matters more than cardio for getting in shape. Women (37%) are more likely than men (24%) to say so.
• 74% of Canadians say they pay attention to more health numbers now than they did 5 years ago.
• 40% of Canadians say the number on the scale matters less to them than it used to. Women (44%) are more likely than men (35%) to say so.
• 67% of Canadians currently track body weight, more than any other health marker.

Methodology

MedExpress surveyed 507 Canadians about what being fit means in 2026. The generational breakdown was 48% millennials, 29% Gen Z, 18% Gen X, and 5% baby boomers. Respondents were 52% women, 47% men, and 1% non-binary; 13% had taken a weight loss medication currently or in the past. Data was collected in September 2026.

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