Factors associated with physical activity in adults in Brasília, Central-West Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To describe physical activity practice in adults and to identify associated factors.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was performed with cluster sampling from the four areas of the city of Brasília, Central-West Brazil, in 2006-2007. A sample comprised of 469 adults was obtained from 250 randomly selected households. Sociodemographic data, weight and height were obtained during a household interview. The short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to measure physical activity. A multivariate linear regression analysis was made to assess the effect of sex, body mass index (BMI), socioeconomic classification and marital status on physical activity scores.


RESULTS
The majority of the sample was comprised of women (57%). The percentage of individuals who achieved 150 minutes of weekly physical activity practice was 52% (95% CI: 47; 56), while that of inactive individuals was 21.5% (95% CI: 17.8; 25.3). An inverse association between physical activity and BMI was only found in men. Types of physical activity reported differed between sexes: walking and doing household chores among women; cycling, running, swimming and weight-lifting among men. There was a strong interaction between male sex and BMI in terms of the association with physical activity scores: the higher the BMI, the lower the physical activity score.


CONCLUSIONS
The portion of inactive individuals in Brasília can be considered low, when compared to estimates from other Brazilian cities. Differences in BMI and physical activity score found between sexes are associated with the type of physical activity practiced.
Thomaz
Priscilla Marcondelli Dias
PM
Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, DF, Brasil. priscilla.nutricionista@gmail.com
Costa
Teresa Helena Macedo da
TH
Silva
Eduardo Freitas da
EF
Hallal
Pedro Curi
PC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013177:Sports / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult