Childhood obesity inequality in northeast China: joint effect of social economic status and school neighborhood environment.

BACKGROUND: Obesogenic environment is important in driving obesity epidemic. Children spend large amount of their time in schools. School neighborhood environment, as well as its interaction with socioeconomic status (SES) needs to be explored to provide evidence for children obesity prevention policies. METHODS: Objective anthropometric measurement, a household structured questionnaire, and school geospatial analyses were carried out on 3670 children (aged 9-12 years) of 26 schools in northeast China. Interaction between SES inter-categorical intersectionality group and school neighborhood environment was tested for the effect on children's body mass index z scores (z-BMI) and waist-hip ratio z scores (z-WHR), following formulation of SES inter-categorical intersectionality group based on household wealth, parental education, and parental occupation. RESULTS: SES groups formed by household wealth, parental education and parental occupation was associated with z-BMI and z-WHR for girls. Those from moderate wealth & self-employed (M&S) families had the highest adjusted z-BMI and z-WHR among all SES groups. School neighborhood environment factors interacted with SES groups in association with WHR for girls. Number of school neighborhood supermarkets and residential sites were negatively associated with z-WHR for girls from M&S families (ß= -0.45 (95%CI: -0.76, -0.15) for supermarkets; ß= -0.01 (95%CI: -0.03, 0.00) for residential sites). Number of school neighborhood convenience stores and public transport stops were positively associated with z-WHR for girls from M&S families (ß = 0.02 (95%CI: 0.00, 0.03) for convenience stores; ß = 0.23 (95%CI: 0.15, 0.31) for public transport stops). While non-significant association was found for number of vegetable stores. CONCLUSION: Girls from moderate wealth & self-employed families may be the group susceptible to school neighborhood environment. Local policies targeted at improving the school neighborhood environment may be one avenue for reducing socioeconomic disparities in obesity especially for girls.

[Food environment and excess weight in schoolchildren: a South American systematic reviewAmbiente alimentario y exceso de peso en la población escolar: revisión sistemática en América del Sur]. / Ambiente alimentar e excesso de peso em escolares: uma revisão sistemática sul-americana.

Objective: To identify and compile the findings of observational studies analyzing the relationship of factors from the school food environment and individual factors related to food consumption in school with excess weight in schoolchildren from South America in the period from 2011 to 2021. Method: The literature review involved a search performed in five databases (PubMed, Web of Science, SciELO, Scopus, and LILACS) and in Google Scholar, as well as a consultation with specialists. Studies were selected if they had an observational design, included schoolchildren aged 5 to 19 years, were performed in South America, and used objective measures such as body mass index (World Health Organization and/or International Obesity Task Force) to assess weight in association with school food environment factors and individual school consumption factors. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020212383). Results: Of 906 identified records, 13 cross-sectional studies (one from Argentina, one from Ecuador, and 11 from Brazil) were included in the review. The prevalence of overweight ranged from 7.5% to 32.5%, and of obesity, from 1.7% to 28.0%. School environment factors from the policy and physical domains (such as unsatisfactory food and nutrition education and unavailability of school-prepared meals) were associated with increased prevalence of excess weight. Individual factors related to adherence to the school meal program (such as consumption of meals offered by the school instead of bringing a snack from home) were associated with lower prevalence of excess weight. Conclusions: Only a few studies are available in South America with a focus on individual and/or school food environment factors and excess weight in schoolchildren. Since the available evidence is restricted to local or regional contexts, new national-level studies are warranted.

Objetivo: Identificar y recopilar los resultados de estudios observacionales realizados en América del Sur, en los cuales se analizó la relación entre los factores del ambiente alimentario escolar y los factores individuales de consumo de la población escolar con exceso de peso en el período del 2011 al 2021. Métodos: La investigación se realizó en cinco bases de datos (PubMed, Web of Science, SciELO, Scopus y LILACS), en Google Scholar y mediante consulta a expertos. Se seleccionaron estudios observacionales realizados en América del Sur con escolares de 5 a 19 años, en los cuales se emplearon medidas objetivas para evaluar el exceso de peso como el índice de masa corporal (Organización Mundial de la Salud y International Obesity Task Force) en relación con factores del ambiente alimentario escolar y factores individuales de consumo en la escuela. El protocolo se registró en la plataforma PROSPERO (CRD42020212383). Resultados: De los 906 registros identificados, en la revisión se incluyeron 13 estudios transversales (uno de Argentina, uno de Ecuador y 11 de Brasil). Las tasas de prevalencia del sobrepeso fluctuaron entre 7,5% y 32,5% y las de la obesidad, entre 1,7% y 28,0%. Los factores del ambiente alimentario escolar de los dominios político y físico (como educación poco satisfactoria en cuanto a alimentos y nutrición, y la falta de comidas preparadas en la escuela) guardaron relación con mayores tasas de prevalencia del exceso de peso. Los factores individuales referentes a la adhesión al programa de alimentación escolar (como el consumo de la alimentación ofrecida por la escuela en vez de la merienda llevada de la casa) guardaron relación con menores tasas de prevalencia del exceso de peso. Conclusiones: Son escasos los estudios realizados en América del Sur sobre la relación entre los factores del ambiente alimentario escolar y los factores individuales y el exceso de peso de la población escolar. El hecho de que la evidencia se limite a los contextos locales o regionales crea un incentivo para realizar nuevos estudios de alcance nacional.

Pricing Strategies to Encourage Availability, Purchase, and Consumption of Healthy Foods and Beverages: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: Food pricing policies to promote healthy diets, such as taxes, price manipulations, and food subsidies, have been tested in different settings. However, little consensus exists about the effect of these policies on the availability of healthy and unhealthy foods, on what foods consumers buy, or on the impact of food purchases on consumer health outcomes. We conducted a systematic review of studies of the effect of food-pricing interventions on retail sales and on consumer purchasing and consumption of healthy foods and beverages. METHODS: We used MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the Cochrane Library to conduct a systematic search for peer-reviewed articles related to studies of food pricing policies. We selected articles that were published in English from January 2000 through December 2016 on the following types of studies: 1) real-world experimental studies (randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, and natural experiments); 2) population studies of people or retail stores in middle-income and high-income countries; 3) pricing interventions alone or in combination with other strategies (price promotions, coupons, taxes, or cash-back rebates), excluding studies of vending-machine or online sales; and 4) outcomes studies at the retail (stocking, sales) and consumer (purchasing, consumption) levels. We selected 65 articles representing 30 studies for review. RESULTS: Sixteen pricing intervention studies that sought to improve access to healthy food and beverage options reported increased stocking and sales of promoted food items. Most studies (n = 23) reported improvement in the purchasing and consumption of healthy foods or beverages or decreased purchasing and consumption of unhealthy foods or beverages. Most studies assessed promotions of fresh fruits and vegetables (n = 20); however, these foods may be hard to source, have high perishability, and raise concerns about safety and handling. Few of the pricing studies we reviewed discouraged purchasing and consumption of unhealthy foods (n = 6). Many studies we reviewed had limitations, including lack of formative research, process evaluation, or psychosocial and health assessments of the intervention's impact; short intervention duration; or no assessment of food substitutions or the effects of pricing interventions on food purchasing and diets. CONCLUSION: Pricing interventions generally increased stocking, sales, purchasing, and consumption of promoted foods and beverages. Additional studies are needed to differentiate the potential impact of selected pricing strategies and policies over others.

Household, psychosocial, and individual-level factors associated with fruit, vegetable, and fiber intake among low-income urban African American youth.

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity, one of the greatest challenges to public health, disproportionately affects low-income urban minority populations. Fruits and vegetables (FV) are nutrient dense foods that may be inversely associated with excessive weight gain. We aimed to identify the individual characteristic, psychosocial, and household factors influencing FV and fiber consumption in low-income African-American (AA) youth in Baltimore, MD. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of data collected from 285 low-income AA caregiver-youth (age range: 10-14 y) dyads participating in the baseline evaluation of the B'More Healthy Communities for Kids obesity prevention trial. The Kid's Block FFQ was used to estimate daily intakes of FV (including 100 % fruit juice) and dietary fiber. Questionnaires were used to assess household socio-demographics, caregiver and youth food purchasing and preparation behavior, and youth psychosocial information. Ordered logit regression analyses were conducted to examine psychosocial and food-related behavior associated with FV and dietary fiber intake (quartile of intake) controlling for youth age, sex, BMI percentile, total calorie intake and household income. RESULTS: On average, youth consumed 1.5 ± 1.1 (M ± SD) servings of fruit, 1.8 ± 1.7 serving of vegetables, and 15.3 ± 10.9 g of fiber/day. There were no differences by gender, age or household income. Greater youth's healthy eating intentions and self-efficacy scores were associated with greater odds ratio for higher intake of FV and fiber (Intention: ORfruit 1.22; 95 % CI: 1.06-1.41, ORvegetable 1.31; 1.15-1.51 and ORfiber 1.46; 1.23-1.74, Self-efficacy: ORfruit 1.07; 1.03-1.12, ORvegetable 1.04; 1.01-1.09, ORfiber 1.10; 1.04-1.16). Youth receiving free/low-cost breakfast were more than twice as likely to have higher fiber intake than those who did not receive free breakfast (OR 2.7; 1.10; 6.9). In addition, youth shopping more frequently at supermarkets were more likely to have greater vegetable and fiber intake (OR 1.26; 1.06-1.50; OR 1.28; 1.03-1.58, respectively). Also, youth with parents who shopped more frequently at fast-food stores had 7 % lower odds for higher vegetable intake (95 % CI: 0.88-0.99). CONCLUSION: In this study, both, youth and household factors were associated with youth FV and fiber intake, underscoring the need for a multi-level approach to increasing youths' diet quality. These results will inform and shape an effective intervention program for improving youth dietary intakes.

Family meals and eating practices among mothers in Santos, Brazil: A population-based study.

This study investigates family meals among mothers and explores associations between eating with family and sociodemographic characteristics, body mass index, and eating practices. A population-based cross-sectional study, using complex cluster-sampling, was conducted in the city of Santos, Brazil with 439 mothers. Frequency of family meals was assessed by asking if mothers did or did not usually have a) breakfast, b) lunch, and c) dinner with family. Linear regression analyses were conducted for the number of meals eaten with family per day and each of the potential explanatory variables, adjusting for the mother's age. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to analyze each factor associated with eating with family as classified categorically: a) sharing meals with family, b) not eating any meals with family. Only 16.4% (n = 72) of participants did not eat any meals with family. From the 83.6% (n = 367) of mothers that had at least one family meal per day, 69.70% (n = 306) ate dinner with their families. Mothers aged ≥40 years reported significantly fewer meals eaten with family compared to mothers aged 30-39 years (ß: -0.26, p = 0.04). Having family meals was 54% more prevalent among mothers with ≥12 years of education (PR for no meals eaten with family: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.30; 0.96, p = 0.03), when compared to mothers with less than nine years of education. Eating no meals with family was 85% more prevalent among mothers who reported that eating was one of the biggest pleasures in their lives (PR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.21; 2.82, p = 0.004). We suggest the need for further research investigating the effects of family meals on mothers' health through nutritional and phenomenological approaches.

Waking up to sleep's role in obesity and blood pressure among Black adolescent girls in low-income, US urban communities: A longitudinal analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To identify longitudinal bidirectional associations between unique sleep trajectories and obesity and hypertension among Black, adolescent girls. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Longitudinal data were from a randomized controlled trial (2009-2013) implemented in schools serving low-income communities aimed at preventing obesity among adolescent girls (mean age = 12.2 years (standard deviation ± 0.72). MEASURES: Nocturnal sleep data were extracted from accelerometers at T1 (enrollment, n = 470), T2 (6-month, n = 348), and T3 (18-month follow-up, n = 277); height and weight were measured at T1-T3; and systolic/diastolic blood pressure at T1 and T3 using an oscillometric monitor. Multilevel models examined longitudinal associations. Finite mixture models identified sleep trajectory groups. Structural equation models examined whether T1 chronic disease risk predicted sleep profiles, and conversely, if sleep trajectories predicted T3 chronic disease risk. Data were analyzed in 2021. RESULTS: For each additional hour of sleep and 1% increase in efficiency there was a 7% lower risk of overweight/obesity at T1 and 6% lower risk at T2, but not at T3. Four sleep trajectories emerged: Worsened, Irregular, Improved, and Regular, with no demographic or metabolic differences between the trajectories. Improved sleep trajectory predicted lower diastolic percentile at T3 (b = -8.81 [95% confidence interval -16.23, -1.40]). CONCLUSIONS: Group-based trajectories of sleep duration and quality provide information on modifiable factors that can be targeted in interventions to evaluate their impact on reducing chronic diseases and addressing disparities. Additional research is needed on samples beyond those recruited in the context of an intervention study.

Perceptions and Impact of a Youth-led Childhood Obesity Prevention Intervention among Youth-leaders.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of a youth-led nutrition intervention on youth-leaders themselves. DESIGN: Mixed methods, including: in-depth interviews and a quasi-experimental quantitative study comparing youth-leaders and nonparticipant comparison youth. ANALYSIS: Qualitative analysis using direct content analysis. Difference-in-differences analyses assessing quantitative program impact. RESULTS: Youth-leaders perceived that the intervention impacted themselves, the youth-participants, and their respective social networks. Youth-leaders experienced greater increases in intentions to eat healthfully (p=0.04), and greater decreases in support for healthy eating from their friends (p=0.01), than the comparison group. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Youth-leaders reported multiple levels of intervention impact, and increased intentions for healthy eating; however, additional research is needed to enhance impact on behavioral outcomes.

Challenges and Lessons Learned from Multi-Level Multi-Component Interventions to Prevent and Reduce Childhood Obesity.

Multi-level multi-component (MLMC) strategies have been recommended to prevent and reduce childhood obesity, but results of such trials have been mixed. The present work discusses lessons learned from three recently completed MLMC interventions to inform future research and policy addressing childhood obesity. B'more Healthy Communities for Kids (BHCK), Children's Healthy Living (CHL), and Health and Local Community (SoL) trials had distinct cultural contexts, global regions, and study designs, but intervened at multiple levels of the socioecological model with strategies that address multiple components of complex food and physical activity environments to prevent childhood obesity. We discuss four common themes: (i) How to engage with community partners and involve them in development of intervention and study design; (ii) build and maintain intervention intensity by creating mutual promotion and reinforcement of the intervention activities across the multiple levels and components; (iii) conduct process evaluation for monitoring, midcourse corrections, and to engage stakeholder groups; and (iv) sustaining MLMC interventions and its effect by developing enduring and systems focused collaborations. The paper expands on each of these themes with specific lessons learned and presents future directions for MLMC trials.

Exposure to a multi-level multi-component childhood obesity prevention community-randomized controlled trial: patterns, determinants, and implications.

BACKGROUND: For community interventions to be effective in real-world conditions, participants need to have sufficient exposure to the intervention. It is unclear how the dose and intensity of the intervention differ among study participants in low-income areas. We aimed to understand patterns of exposure to different components of a multi-level multi-component obesity prevention program to inform our future impact analyses. METHODS: B'more Healthy Communities for Kids (BHCK) was a community-randomized controlled trial implemented in 28 low-income zones in Baltimore in two rounds (waves). Exposure to three different intervention components (corner store/carryout restaurants, social media/text messaging, and youth-led nutrition education) was assessed via post-intervention interviews with 385 low-income urban youths and their caregivers. Exposure scores were generated based on self-reported viewing of BHCK materials (posters, handouts, educational displays, and social media posts) and participating in activities, including taste tests during the intervention. For each intervention component, points were assigned for exposure to study materials and activities, then scaled (0-1 range), yielding an overall BHCK exposure score [youths: mean 1.1 (range 0-7.6 points); caregivers: 1.1 (0-6.7), possible highest score: 13]. Ordered logit regression analyses were used to investigate correlates of youths' and caregivers' exposure level (quartile of exposure). RESULTS: Mean intervention exposure scores were significantly higher for intervention than comparison youths (mean 1.6 vs 0.5, p < 0.001) and caregivers (mean 1.6 vs 0.6, p < 0.001). However, exposure scores were low in both groups and 10% of the comparison group was moderately exposed to the intervention. For each 1-year increase in age, there was a 33% lower odds of being highly exposed to the intervention (odds ratio 0.77, 95% confidence interval 0.69; 0.88) in the unadjusted and adjusted model controlling for youths' sex and household income. CONCLUSION: Treatment effects may be attenuated in community-based trials, as participants may be differentially exposed to intervention components and the comparison group may also be exposed. Exposure should be measured to provide context to impact evaluations in multi-level trials. Future analyses linking exposure scores to the outcome should control for potential confounders in the treatment-on-the-treated approach, while recognizing that confounding and selection bias may exist affecting causal inference. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02181010 . Retrospectively registered on 2 July 2014.

Ambiente alimentar e excesso de peso em escolares: uma revisão sistemática sul-americana / Food environment and excess weight in schoolchildren: a South American systematic review / Ambiente alimentario y exceso de peso en la población escolar: revisión sistemática en América del Sur

RESUMO Objetivo. Identificar e compilar os achados de estudos observacionais que analisaram a relação de fatores do ambiente alimentar escolar e individuais de consumo na escola com excesso de peso em escolares da América do Sul no período de 2011 a 2021. Métodos. A pesquisa foi realizada em cinco bases de dados (PubMed, Web of Science, SciELO, Scopus e LILACS) e no Google Scholar, além de consulta a especialistas. Foram selecionados estudos observacionais com escolares de 5 a 19 anos, realizados na América do Sul, que usaram medidas objetivas para avaliar excesso de peso, como o índice de massa corporal (Organização Mundial da Saúde e/ou International Obesity Task Force), em associação a fatores do ambiente alimentar escolar e individuais de consumo na escola. O protocolo foi registrado na plataforma PROSPERO (CRD42020212383). Resultados. Dos 906 registros identificados, 13 estudos transversais (um da Argentina, um do Equador e 11 do Brasil) foram incluídos na revisão. As prevalências variaram de 7,5% a 32,5% para sobrepeso e 1,7% a 28,0% para obesidade. Fatores do ambiente alimentar escolar, dos domínios político e físico (como educação alimentar e nutricional insatisfatória e indisponibilidade de refeições preparadas na escola) se associaram com maiores prevalências de excesso de peso. Fatores individuais relacionados à adesão ao programa de alimentação escolar (como consumo da alimentação oferecida pela escola ao invés de lanche trazido de casa) se associaram a menores prevalências de excesso de peso. Conclusões. São escassos os estudos sul-americanos enfocando a associação entre fatores do ambiente alimentar escolar e/ou individuais e excesso de peso em escolares. As evidências restritas a contextos locais ou regionais incentivam novos estudos de abrangência nacional.

ABSTRACT Objective. To identify and compile the findings of observational studies analyzing the relationship of factors from the school food environment and individual factors related to food consumption in school with excess weight in schoolchildren from South America in the period from 2011 to 2021. Method. The literature review involved a search performed in five databases (PubMed, Web of Science, SciELO, Scopus, and LILACS) and in Google Scholar, as well as a consultation with specialists. Studies were selected if they had an observational design, included schoolchildren aged 5 to 19 years, were performed in South America, and used objective measures such as body mass index (World Health Organization and/or International Obesity Task Force) to assess weight in association with school food environment factors and individual school consumption factors. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020212383). Results. Of 906 identified records, 13 cross-sectional studies (one from Argentina, one from Ecuador, and 11 from Brazil) were included in the review. The prevalence of overweight ranged from 7.5% to 32.5%, and of obesity, from 1.7% to 28.0%. School environment factors from the policy and physical domains (such as unsatisfactory food and nutrition education and unavailability of school-prepared meals) were associated with increased prevalence of excess weight. Individual factors related to adherence to the school meal program (such as consumption of meals offered by the school instead of bringing a snack from home) were associated with lower prevalence of excess weight. Conclusions. Only a few studies are available in South America with a focus on individual and/or school food environment factors and excess weight in schoolchildren. Since the available evidence is restricted to local or regional contexts, new national-level studies are warranted.

RESUMEN Objetivo. Identificar y recopilar los resultados de estudios observacionales realizados en América del Sur, en los cuales se analizó la relación entre los factores del ambiente alimentario escolar y los factores individuales de consumo de la población escolar con exceso de peso en el período del 2011 al 2021. Métodos. La investigación se realizó en cinco bases de datos (PubMed, Web of Science, SciELO, Scopus y LILACS), en Google Scholar y mediante consulta a expertos. Se seleccionaron estudios observacionales realizados en América del Sur con escolares de 5 a 19 años, en los cuales se emplearon medidas objetivas para evaluar el exceso de peso como el índice de masa corporal (Organización Mundial de la Salud y International Obesity Task Force) en relación con factores del ambiente alimentario escolar y factores individuales de consumo en la escuela. El protocolo se registró en la plataforma PROSPERO (CRD42020212383). Resultados. De los 906 registros identificados, en la revisión se incluyeron 13 estudios transversales (uno de Argentina, uno de Ecuador y 11 de Brasil). Las tasas de prevalencia del sobrepeso fluctuaron entre 7,5% y 32,5% y las de la obesidad, entre 1,7% y 28,0%. Los factores del ambiente alimentario escolar de los dominios político y físico (como educación poco satisfactoria en cuanto a alimentos y nutrición, y la falta de comidas preparadas en la escuela) guardaron relación con mayores tasas de prevalencia del exceso de peso. Los factores individuales referentes a la adhesión al programa de alimentación escolar (como el consumo de la alimentación ofrecida por la escuela en vez de la merienda llevada de la casa) guardaron relación con menores tasas de prevalencia del exceso de peso. Conclusiones. Son escasos los estudios realizados en América del Sur sobre la relación entre los factores del ambiente alimentario escolar y los factores individuales y el exceso de peso de la población escolar. El hecho de que la evidencia se limite a los contextos locales o regionales crea un incentivo para realizar nuevos estudios de alcance nacional.

Prática de atividade física e perfil nutricional de mães com filhos de até 10 anos de idade residentes na área urbana do município de Santos-SP / Physical activity and nutritional status of mothers with children under 10 years old residents of an urban area in Santos, Brazil

In this study, we aimed to describe the physical activity level and nutritional status of mothers with children under 10 years old living in different socioeconomic areas in the municipality of Santos, Sao Paulo state, Brazil. To this end, we used a cross-sectional design and collected data on physical activity level, means of transportation, anthropometric measures, and socioeconomic status through home-based interviews in a sample of 538 mothers. The physical activity level of individuals was assessed by a short version of the International Physical Activity Question¬naire (IPAQ). We used the Chi-square ande Kruskal-Wallis tests to assess the difference in physical activity level among various socioeconomic areas of the city and evaluate the association between this outcome and the nutritional status of women. We found a high prevalence of women with little activity (43.7%) and a high frequency of women who do not practice leisure-time physical activity (79.2%). When practice occurs, the most common exercises are walking (10.4%) and working out (9.1%). We also found a high prevalence of excess body fat (74.3%) and overweight (52%) among this population. A higher prevalence of leisure-time physical activity was found among participants from high-income areas. Thus, we recommend that new strategies to promote physical activity should take into account socioeconomic inequalities and cultural differences that can affect the physical activity level of the population.

Describir la práctica de actividad física y el perfil nutricional de la población de madres con hijos de hasta 10 años de edad, residentes en diferentes regiones socioeconómicas del municipio de Santos. El estudio tuvo un diseño transversal y los datos se recogieron por medio de encuestas domiciliarias con una muestra de 538 madres. Se preguntó sobre nivel de actividad física, medios de transporte utilizados, medidas antropométricas y datos socioeconómicos. El nivel de actividad física se evaluó por medio del instrumento International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ ? versión breve). Se evaluó la diferencia en el nivel de actividad física entre las regiones de la ciudad y se asoció dicha variable con el estado nutricional de las mujeres, por medio de los tests de Kruskal-Wallis y Chi-cuadrado. Se encontró una alta prevalencia de mujeres poco activas (43,7%) y una alta frecuencia de mujeres que no practican actividad física en su tiempo libre (79,2%). Las actividades de tiempo libre más frecuentes fueron caminatas (10,4%) y musculación (9,1%). También se encontró una alta prevalencia en el exceso de grasa corporal (74,3%) y sobrepeso (52%) en esta población. Se encontraron diferencias en el perfil de actividad física de la población, dependiendo, éstas, de la región de residencia. Se pudo verificar una mayor prevalencia de actividad física en el tiempo libre entre los residentes de las regiones de mayor nivel socioeconómico. Por lo tanto, se recomienda que las nuevas estrategias de incentivo a la actividad física tengan en cuenta las desigualdades socioeconómicas y culturales que influyen en el nivel de actividad física.

Descrever a prática de atividade física e o perfil nutricional da população de mães com filhos de até 10 anos de idade, residentes nas diferentes regiões socioeconômicas do município de Santos-SP. O estudo teve delineamento transversal e os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas domiciliares com uma amostra de 538 mães. Foram investigadas questões sobre o nível de atividade física, os meios de transporte utilizados, as medidas antropométricas e os dados socioeconômicos. O nível de atividade física foi avaliado por meio do instrumento International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ - versão curta). Foi avaliada a diferença no nível de atividade física entre as regiões da cidade e a associação dessa variável com o estado nutricional das mulheres, por meio dos testes de Kruskal-Wallis e Qui-quadrado. Foi observada alta prevalência de mulheres pouco ativas (43,7%) e alta frequência de inatividade física no lazer (79,2%). As atividades de lazer mais praticadas foram caminhada (10,4%) e musculação (9,1%). Encontrou-se também uma alta prevalência de excesso de gordura corporal (74,3%) e excesso de peso (52%) nesta população. Diferenças no perfil de atividade física da população apareceram de acordo com a região de moradia. Foi possível verificar maior prevalência de atividade física no domínio do lazer entre os residentes das regiões de maior nível socioeconômico. Recomenda-se que novas estratégias de incentivo à atividade física considerem as disparidades socioeconômicas e culturais que influenciam o nível de atividade física.