Development of the Brazilian Version of a Pan-Canadian Behavior Change Program and Its Health and Fitness Outcomes.

Chronic diseases are a major health problem worldwide, especially in lower-income jurisdictions. Considering this scenario, the World Health Organization has recently established, as a research priority, preventive interventions for populations from lower-income countries, such as the middle-income country of Brazil. The purpose of this article is to describe the components of a pan-Canadian lifestyle program adapted to Brazilians and to report its health and fitness outcomes. A 12-week program called ACCELERATION was translated and culturally adapted to Brazilians. A quasi-randomized controlled trial was designed, consisting of weekly emails and educational videos addressing risk factors for chronic disease. Health and fitness measures included body composition, cardiovascular variables, aerobic fitness, and muscular strength. The Brazilian experimental group showed maintenance in heart rate, blood pressure, and VO2max values while presenting an improvement of 3.3% in body fat percentage (p = 0.040, d = -0.325) and 5.1% in muscular strength (p = 0.039, d = 0.328). Overall, these results were similar to the Canadian intervention. Based on these findings, the Brazilian version of the program has the potential to contribute to the fight against chronic diseases in Brazil.

A Critical Review on New Approaches for Chronic Disease Prevention in Brazil and Canada: From Wholistic Dietary Guidelines to Physical Activity Security.

In light of new evidence on the prevention of chronic diseases and the elevated rates of overweight and obesity in Brazil and Canada, this critical review aims to interpret and synthesize current aspects regarding dietary and physical activity initiatives in both countries and make future recommendations. The pioneering work presented in the last Brazilian dietary guidelines has been called a model that can be applied globally, given its conceptualization of healthy eating that translates easily to practical guidance. The new Canadian Food Guide has incorporated similar aspects, also putting the country as a leader in dietary guidance. With these new recommendations, citizens in both Brazil and Canada have access to impactful evidence-informed nutritional guidelines. Both documents propose eating patterns that focus not only on health benefits, such as chronic disease prevention, but also incorporate well-being concerning cultural, economic, sociodemographic, biological, and ecological dimensions. A similar approach is required for physical activity to allow individuals to have attainable health and life goals and thereby fully enjoy their lives, regardless of geographical location, health status, and socioeconomic condition, a concept recently described as physical activity security. The wholistic dietary guidelines from both countries represent a change in paradigm in public health. Likewise, national evidence-based policies are warranted to reduce disparities in physical activity, allowing healthier and more active lifestyles for everyone.

Translation, Cultural Adaptation, and Reproducibility of the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for Everyone (PAR-Q+): The Brazilian Portuguese Version.

Background: The Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for Everyone (PAR-Q+) is the international standard for pre-participation risk stratification and screening. In order to provide a practical and valid screening tool to facilitate safe engagement in physical activity and fitness assessments for the Brazilian population, this study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and verify the reproducibility of the evidence-based PAR-Q+ to the Brazilian Portuguese language. Method: Initially, the document was translated by two independent translators, before Brazilian experts in health and physical activity evaluated the translations and produced a common initial version. Next, two English native speakers, fluent in Brazilian Portuguese and accustomed to the local culture, back-translated the questionnaire. These back translations were assessed by the organization in charge of the PAR-Q+, then a final Brazilian version was approved. A total of 493 Brazilians between 5 and 93 yr (39.9 ± 25.4 yr), 59% female, with varying levels of health and physical activity, completed the questionnaire twice, in person or online, 1-2 weeks apart. Cronbach's alpha was used to calculate the internal consistency of all items of the questionnaire, and the Kappa statistic was used to assess the individual reproducibility of each item of the document. Additionally, the intraclass correlation coefficient and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to verify the general reproducibility (reliability) of the translated version. Results: The Brazilian version had an excellent internal consistency (0.993), with an almost perfect agreement in 93.8% of the questions, and a substantial agreement in the other 6.2%. The translated version also had a good to excellent total reproducibility (0.901, 95% CI: 0.887-0.914). Conclusion: The results show this translation is a valid and reliable screening tool, which may facilitate a larger number of Brazilians to start or increase physical activity participation in a safe manner.

Maximal isometric handgrip strength: comparison between weight categories and classificatory table for adult judo athletes.

The aims of this study were to compare the maximal isometric handgrip strength of judo athletes from different weight categories and to create a classificatory table for this test. A total of 406 athletes had their maximal isometric handgrip strength measured, following standardized recommendations. Absolute and relative values were calculated for each hand and for the sum of both hands. Weight categories were compared through a one-way analysis of variance, followed by Tukey test. The effect size was determined by partial eta squared, and the relationship between variables was determined using Pearson correlation coefficient. There was a large effect of weight category in absolute handgrip strength for each hand and for the sum of both hands, with lower values for the lighter categories. Conversely, when the relative strength was considered higher values were found for the lighter categories (P<0.001). Very large and significant positive correlations (P<0.001) were found between right and left for absolute (r=0.886) and relative (r=0.883) handgrip values. Overall, there was an increase in absolute and a decrease in relative handgrip strength across weight categories. These differences found in grip strength in weight categories are probably linked to differences in muscle mass between them. There was a high correlation between each hand for absolute and relative values, which suggests that assessing only one hand may be enough, and therefore a faster way of evaluation. Finally, the normative classificatory table created may serve as a reference for different purposes.

Incidência de fibro edema geloide em mulheres caucasianas jovens / Incidence of cellulite in Young Caucasian women

O fibro edema geloide é uma alteração esteticamente indesejável que acomete mulheres em alguma época da vida. De acordo com a classificação proposta por Ulrich, existem três graus de fibro edema geloide: I, II e III. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a incidência da localização corporal e do grau do fibro edema geloide e analisar a porcentagem de gordura em mulheres caucasianas jovens. Foram selecionadas 30 mulheres com média de idade de 20 anos e queixa de fibro edema geloide. As voluntárias foram submetidas à avaliação composta de anamnese, exame físico, avaliação antropométrica e da composição corporal. A média da porcentagem de gordura foi de 27,18. Portanto, concluiu-se que as regiões glútea e posterior da coxa foram as mais acometidas, o grau I foi o mais incidente, e a média de porcentagem de gordura se mostrou elevada nesta população com queixa de fibro edema geloide.

Cellulite is an unacceptable aesthetic problem, which affects females in some period of life. According to Ulrich’s classification proposed there are three cellulite’s stages: I, II and III. This study aimed at verifying the incidence of cellulite, by the localization and stage, and to analyze fat percentage in young Caucasian women. Thirty women, who are volunteers, with mean age of 20 years old and complaining of cellulite, were selected. Volunteers were submitted to an evaluation that consisted of anamnesis, physical exam, anthropometric measures and body composition. The fat percentage mean was 27.18. Therefore, it was concluded that cellulite has more incidence in buttocks and posterior thigh, stage I was the most affected, and the fat percentage mean was higher in this population with cellulite’s complaints.