Physical inactivity and associated factors among women from a municipality in southern Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity is one of the most important modifiable risk factors that is raising the global burden of chronic diseases. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, population-based study of 790 women aged 20 years or older living in the urban area of a municipality in Southern Brazil. The level of physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, short form. Inactivity was defined as fewer than 150 min/wk-1 spent in moderate or vigorous physical activities. Prevalence ratios were calculated by robust Poisson regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of physical inactivity was 48.7% (95% CI, 43.3%-54.1%). After adjusting for confounders, we found a linear trend for increasing prevalence of physical inactivity with increasing body mass index (P = .008). Women who were married or in a domestic partnership were 29% less physically active than single women (P = .044). A borderline association was detected between the presence of minor psychiatric disorders (MPD) and physical inactivity (P = .058). CONCLUSIONS: There was a high prevalence of inactivity. Obese women, those married or in domestic partnerships and those with MPD were more likely to lead an inactive lifestyle. These results suggest that strategies are required for breaking down barriers to physical activity in this demographic group.

Seasonal effects on physical activity levels in adults living in Southern Brazil

Há pouca consistência na literatura sobre o efeito sazonal nos níveis de atividade física (NAF) na população. Realizou-se um estudo longitudinal para avaliar o efeito da sazonalidade nos NAFs em 120 adultos de uma região temperada do Sul do Brasil. A atividade física (AF) foi avaliada em dois períodos (verão e inverno) de 2007, com base na seção de AF no tempo de lazer e como forma de deslocamento do International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). As medianas dos NAFs foram comparadas entre as duas estações usando Sign Test. Para comparar a proporção de ativos e inativos no verão e no inverno utilizou-se o McNemar Test. A mediana do NAF Total no tempo de lazer foi maior no verão do que no inverno (383,75 vs. 210 MET-min/sem) (p=0,02). A porcentagem de pessoas inativas no verão e no inverno foi, respectivamente, 37,5% e 49,2% (p=0,04). As pessoas com 9 a 11 anos de escolaridade e pertencentes à classe B foram as que sofreram maiores reduções nos NAFs do verão para o inverno. Nossos resultados apontam para a necessidade de planejamento e estratégias para promover AF regular, especialmente no inverno.

There are no consistent findings about the seasonal effects on the physical activity levels (PAL) of the population. We conducted a study aimed at evaluating seasonal effects on physical activity levels among adults living in a temperate region of Brazil. A longitudinal study was carried out in a sample of 120 adults living in Southern Brazil. Physical activity was evaluated using the leisure-time and transport-related physical activity sections of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) in two periods (summer and winter) of the year 2007. Median values of PAL (MET-min/week) were compared between the two seasons using Sign Test. McNemar Test was used for physical activity as dichotomous. Total Leisure-Time median values were higher in summer compared to winter (383.75 vs. 210 MET-min/wk, respectively; p=0.02). Overall, 37.5% of the subjects were classified as inactive during Summer compared to 49.2% during Winter (p=0.04). Subjects with 9 to 11 years of education, belonging to socioeconomic status B were more likely to decrease PAL in Winter compared to Summer. There must be planning and strategies to promote regular PA, particularly in winter.

Seasonal effect on nutrient intake in adults living in Southern Brazil.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of seasonality on nutrient intake in healthy adults from the southernmost metropolitan area of Brazil. The dietary intake (24-hour dietary recall on six different days) in a sample of 162 adults (114 women), aged 20 to 69, was obtained during the year 2007. The nutrient intake was averaged for each season and adjusted for energy intake using the residual method. The effect of season on energy, macro and micro-nutrient intake was investigated based on the Generalized Estimate Equations (GEE) model. There were statistically significant differences between seasons for carbohydrate and total fat intake after controlling for gender, age, education, and interactions. In summer carbohydrate intake was higher than other seasons while the total fat intake was lower. These findings highlight the importance of considering seasonal variations not only for evaluating dietary intake but also nutrition and public health policy recommendations, particularly in adult populations living in temperate regions.

Development of a food frequency questionnaire in a probabilistic sample of adults from Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

With the purpose of generating a list of foods for a food-frequency questionnaire, data from 24h dietary recalls on a typical day from a probabilistic sample of 1,724 adults of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were analyzed. The frequency of food intake, the total intake of energy and macronutrients and the relative contribution of each food item to total energy and macronutrient intake were calculated. The most frequently reported food items (> 50% of adults) were rice, coffee, beans, refined canesugar, and bread. Whole milk was consumed more frequently then skimmed milk or semi-skimmed milk. Beef was consumed by more adults than chicken, pork or fish. Approximately 90% of energy and macronutrients intake was explained by 65 food items. The list of food items generated in the present analysis is similar to those found in other samples of adults from urban areas in Brazil. It may be possible to generate a core list of common foods with addition of regional foods to be used nationally in urban areas of the country.

Seasonal effect on nutrient intake in adults living in Southern Brazil / Efeito da sazonalidade sobre a ingestão de nutrientes em adultos residentes no Sul do Brasil

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of seasonality on nutrient intake in healthy adults from the southernmost metropolitan area of Brazil. The dietary intake (24-hour dietary recall on six different days) in a sample of 162 adults (114 women), aged 20 to 69, was obtained during the year 2007. The nutrient intake was averaged for each season and adjusted for energy intake using the residual method. The effect of season on energy, macro and micro-nutrient intake was investigated based on the Generalized Estimate Equations (GEE) model. There were statistically significant differences between seasons for carbohydrate and total fat intake after controlling for gender, age, education, and interactions. In summer carbohydrate intake was higher than other seasons while the total fat intake was lower. These findings highlight the importance of considering seasonal variations not only for evaluating dietary intake but also nutrition and public health policy recommendations, particularly in adult populations living in temperate regions.

Avaliar o efeito da sazonalidade sobre a ingestão de nutrientes em adultos residentes em Porto Alegre e Região Metropolitana, no Sul do Brasil. A ingestão alimentar foi obtida por meio de recordatórios alimentares de 24 horas em uma amostra de 162 adultos, com idade entre 20 e 69 anos. A ingestão média de nutrientes para cada estação do ano foi ajustada pela energia total usando o método dos resíduos. O efeito das estações do ano sobre a ingestão de energia, macro e micro-nutrientes foi analisado com base no modelo de Equações de Estimação Generalizado (GEE). Houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre as estações do ano para a ingestão de carboidratos e gordura total após ajuste para sexo, idade, educação e interações. No verão a ingestão de carboidrato foi maior do que nas outras estações e a ingestão de gordura foi menor. Os resultados sugerem que o efeito da variação sazonal sobre a ingestão de nutrientes deve ser considerado em estudos de avaliação da ingestão dietética e recomendações, especialmente em adultos residentes em zonas temperadas como a região Sul do Brasil.

Development of a food frequency questionnaire in a probabilistic sample of adults from Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil / Desenvolvimento de questionário de freqüência alimentar em amostra probabilística de adultos de Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

With the purpose of generating a list of foods for a food-frequency questionnaire, data from 24h dietary recalls on a typical day from a probabilistic sample of 1,724 adults of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were analyzed. The frequency of food intake, the total intake of energy and macronutrients and the relative contribution of each food item to total energy and macronutrient intake were calculated. The most frequently reported food items (> 50 percent of adults) were rice, coffee, beans, refined canesugar, and bread. Whole milk was consumed more frequently then skimmed milk or semi-skimmed milk. Beef was consumed by more adults than chicken, pork or fish. Approximately 90 percent of energy and macronutrients intake was explained by 65 food items. The list of food items generated in the present analysis is similar to those found in other samples of adults from urban areas in Brazil. It may be possible to generate a core list of common foods with addition of regional foods to be used nationally in urban areas of the country.

Com o objetivo de gerar uma lista de alimentos para questionário de freqüência alimentar (QFA), avaliou-se dados de recordatório alimentar de 24 horas de um dia típico em uma amostra probabilística de adultos, obtidos num inquérito domiciliar durante o ano de 2003. Verificou-se a freqüência dos alimentos ingeridos, calculou-se o total ingerido de energia e macronutrientes e a contribuição relativa de cada item alimentar no total de energia ou macronutrientes ingeridos. Os dados foram ponderados para representar a população adulta de Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Os alimentos mais ingeridos pelos adultos (> 50 por cento) foram arroz branco, café, feijão, açúcar refinado e pão francês. Um total de 65 alimentos é capaz de explicar aproximadamente 90 por cento da ingestão de energia e macronutrientes. A lista de alimentos gerada se assemelha a de outros estudos em amostras de adultos vivendo em regiões urbanas nacionais, e precisa ser validada em outras áreas urbanas do país. É possível que seja gerada uma lista de alimentos comuns, com inclusões de alimentos regionais para ser universalmente usada em QFA nas áreas urbanas do país.