For Participants
HEAL Study
Investigating the health links between where we live and how we eat
Starting in March 2026, OHS participants are joining the largest effort in Canada’s history to collect information about diet and physical activity. For the HEAL study (HEALthy Eating and Supportive Environments), OHS participants will be asked to complete several food and activity surveys over the course of 12 months. By taking part, participants are helping researchers learn how neighbourhoods and environments shape what we eat and how we move.
The Ontario Health Study is one of seven regional cohorts that together form the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (CanPath), Canada’s largest population health study. More than 330,000 Canadians will be invited to take part in HEAL to help researchers better understand how features of where you live, such as the types of food outlets close to you and how walkable your neighbourhood is, can affect what you eat and your physical activities.
Participants are being invited at different times, so if you haven’t been contacted yet, don’t worry. Your invitation may still be on its way.
Participant user guides
To help you complete your questionnaires, here are step-by-step guides:
ASA24 (24-hour dietary recall questionnaire) User Guide
ACT24 (24-hour daily recall activities questionnaire) User Guide
These downloadable PDFs walk you through each section and offer tips to make the process easier and faster.