Exposure to a community-wide physical activity promotion program and leisure-time physical activity in Aracaju, Brazil.
BACKGROUND
Evaluation studies of large scale physical activity promotion programs are rare in Latin America. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the association between various forms of exposure to Academia da Cidade (PAC), a professionally supervised intervention in Aracaju (Brazil), and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA).


METHODS
A population-based study including 2267 adults was carried out. LTPA was assessed using the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and a cut-off of 150 minutes per week was used in the analyses.


RESULTS
In fully adjusted models, having ever heard about PAC was related to an odds of 1.8 (95% CI 1.4-2.2) for reaching the 150-minutes per week LTPA threshold. Equivalent odds ratios were 1.6 (95% CI 1.1-2.3) for having ever seen a PAC class, 14.3 (95% CI 12.3-16.4) for current and 4.0 (95% CI 1.4-11.3) for past PAC participation.


CONCLUSIONS
Different sources of exposure to PAC were significantly associated with LTPA, which may suggest that professionally-supervised community classes offered for free may be a successful alternative for promoting physical activity in Brazil. If PAC happens to be expanded to other Brazilian areas, intervention studies may be carried out to evaluate its effectiveness.
Mendonça
Braulio C
BC
Secretariat of Health, Aracaju, Brazil.
Oliveira
Antonio C
AC
Toscano J J
O
O
Knuth
Alan G
AG
Borges
Thiago T
TT
Malta
Deborah C
DC
Cruz
Danielle K
DK
Hallal
Pedro C
PC
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D003256:Community Participation; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult