Leisure time behaviors: prevalence, correlates and associations with overweight in Brazilian adults. A cross-sectional analysis.
BACKGROUND
Television viewing (TV viewing) is an important indicator of physical inactivity.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze the prevalence of different leisure time behaviors and TV viewing among healthy adults and their association with overweight.


METHODS
Cross sectional survey in which 1061 females and 925 males aged 30 years old or more, answered a self administered questionnaire about physical activity Respondents were classified according to frequency participation in sports, walking, cycling and TV viewing. Body mass index (BMI) was derived from self reported weight and height.


RESULTS
Less than 30% of individuals participated regularly in sports and less than 15 and 5% reported a high frequency of walking and cycling, respectively. Subjects regularly engaged in sports had a lower BMI. After adjustments, low cycling frequency and high TV viewing were associated with overweight in men and women, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of physical inactivity during leisure time is high among Brazilian adults and associated to obesity.
Fernandes
Romulo A
RA
Department of Physical Education, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, Brazil. romulo_ef@yahoo.com.br
Christofaro
Diego G D
DG
Casonato
Juliano
J
Costa Rosa
Clara S
CS
Costa
Felipe F
FF
Freitas Júnior
Ismael F
IF
Luiz Monteiro
Henrique
H
Ramos DE Oliveira
Arli
A
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000145:classification*; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D013177:Sports / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013690:Television / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*