Deslocamento ativo para a escola e indicadores antropométricos de obesidade em adolescentes / Active commuting to school and anthropometric indicators of obesity in adolescents

Os baixos níveis de atividade física e a obesidade na população adolescente têm requerido estratégias urgentes em saúde pública, pois são potenciais fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar os indicadores antropométricos de obesidade em adolescentes, considerando diferentes formas de deslocamento para a escola. Trata-se de uma pesquisa epidemiológica, de delineamento transversal, conduzida em 818 adolescentes (375 rapazes e 443 moças) com média de idade de 16,3±1,0 anos, estudantes do ensino médio de escolas públicas estaduais do município de São José-SC, Brasil. Os adolescentes informaram, por meio de questionário autoadministrado, como normalmente se deslocavam para a escola (a pé ­ considerado como deslocamento ativo ­ ou por meio de carro/moto ou ônibus ­ analisado como deslocamento passivo). Foram aferidas as medidas de massa corporal e estatura (para cálculo do IMC), perímetro da cintura e dobras cutâneas das regiões do tríceps e subescapular (considerando-se o somatório das duas dobras). Empregou-se o teste Kruskal-Wallis para comparar os indicadores antropométricos de obesidade entre os tipos de deslocamento realizados no percurso da residência para a escola. Os resultados apontaram que os adolescentes que se deslocavam ativamente para a escola apresentaram menores medidas de perímetro da cintura (p= 0,034). Entre os sexos, as menores medidas do somatório de dobras cutâneas e perímetro da cintura foram observadas, respectivamente, entre rapazes (p= 0,043) e moças (p= 0,009) que se deslocavam de maneira ativa para a escola. Conclui-se que, nos adolescentes investigados, as menores medidas da gordura corporal foram observadas entre aqueles que se deslocavam de maneira ativa, o que reforça a importância do deslocamento ativo como um hábito a ser considerado pelos escolares como um meio de melhorar seus indicadores antropométricos. Faz-se necessário, portanto, a implementação de políticas públicas que promovam o deslocamento ativo para a escola entre os adolescentes...(AU)

Obesity and low levels of physical activity among the adolescent population have been required urgent strategies in public health, since they are potential risk factors for the development of chronic non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to compare the anthropometric indicators of obesity in adolescents considering different forms of commuting to school. This is an epidemiological research, with a cross-sectional design, that included 818 adolescents (375 boys and 443 girls) with mean age of 16.3±1.0 years, who were high school students in state public schools of the city of São José-SC, Brazil. The adolescents reported, by means of a questionnaire self-administered, as they normally commuted to school (walking - considered as active commuting -or by means of car/bike or bus - considered as passive commuting). Body mass and height were measured (to calculate BMI), and also the waist circumference and skinfold thickness in the regions of the triceps and subscapular (considering the sum of the two folds). We used the Kruskal-Wallis test to compare the anthropometric indicators of obesity among the types of commuting undertaken in the course of the residence to school. The results showed that the adolescents who used active commuting to school had lower measures of waist circumference (p= 0.034). Between the sexes, smaller measures of sum of skinfolds and waist circumference were observd, respectively, among boys (p= 0.043) and girls (p= 0.009) that used active commuting to school. We concluded that, in the adolescents investigated, a healthier body composition among adolescents who used the active commuting from the residence to the school was observed, which reinforces the importance of active commuting as a behavior to be considered by the students and a way to improve levels of physical activity as well as their anthropometric indicators...(AU)

Perception of environmental obstacles to commuting physical activity in Brazilian elderly.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between perceived environmental attributes and commuting physical activity (PA) in a population-based sample of elderly persons. METHODS: Cross-sectional study was performed in 2009/2010, including 1652 elderly individuals aged 60 years or greater living in Florianopolis-SC, Brazil. Physical activity was measured using the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Perceived environmental variables were assessed using a modified version of the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale. Multinomial logistic regression was used and a 5% significance level was taken into account. RESULTS: 36.8% and 35.2% of the subjects were inactive or did not reach 150 min/week on transport-related physical activity, respectively. Physical and social environmental characteristics, such as the absence of parks and athletic courts (OR(Inactive):1.75; 95% CI:1.22-2.51); presence of garbage (OR(Low-active):1.55; 1.04-2.30); street lighting (OR(Low-active):2.51; 95% CI:1.36-4.64; OR(Low-active):2.43; 95% CI:1.43-4.15); not walking with the dog (OR(Inactive): 3.08; 95% CI:1.42-6.69) and don't have a dog (OR(Inactive):2.45; 95% CI:1.06-5.66) were associated with lower levels of commuting PA. CONCLUSIONS: Results showed that poor physical and social environmental characteristics were related to lower commuting. Building public facilities and promoting physical activity in groups are likely to impact in active commuting among the elderly in Brazil.