title: Time trends of physical activity and television viewing time in Brazil: 2006-2012.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite recent advances in surveillance of physical activity, data on time trends of physical activity in low and middle-income countries are lacking. This study describes time trends in physical activity and television viewing between 2006 and 2012 among Brazilian adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 371,271 adult participants (18 + years) in the Surveillance System for Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Illnesses using Telephone Survey (VIGITEL) were analysed. Time trends in leisure-time physical activity (≥ 5 days/wk; ≥ 30 min/day), transportation physical activity (using bicycle or walking for ≥ 30 minutes per day as a means of transportation to/from work) and proportion of participants spending more than three hours per day watching television were analysed. Annual changes according to sex, age and years of schooling were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was an increase in leisure-time physical activity from 12.8% in 2006 to 14.9% in 2012 (annual increase of 1.9%; p < 0.001). This increase was more marked in younger participants and those with high-school education. Transportation physical activity decreased 12.9% per year (p < 0.001) from 2006 to 2008 and 5.8% per year from 2009 to 2012 (p < 0.001). The annual decline in television viewing time was 5% (p < 0.001) between 2006 and 2009 and 2% (p = 0.16) between 2010 and 2012.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  National survey data from Brazil indicate that leisure-time physical activity appears to be increasing, while television viewing time appears to be decreasing in recent years. However, transportation physical activity has been declining. These data are important for informing national public health policies.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil. gregore.mielke@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Grégore I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Mielke
authors.forename: Pedro C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hallal
authors.forename: Deborah C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Malta
authors.forename: I-Min
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013690:Television; D014186:Transportation; D016138:Walking; D055815:Young Adult