Leisure-time physical activity among older adults in Brazil: results from the Brazilian National Health Survey ­ 2013 / Prática de atividade física de lazer entre idosos brasileiros: resultados da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde ­ 2013

INTRODUCTION: Health behaviors are fundamental for healthy aging. In this sense, the practice of physical activity is one of the most beneficial factors for the health of individuals. OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of leisure-time physical activity among the older adults and analyze in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, national regions, Federative Units of Brazil, and types of physical activity practiced. METHODS: Study utilizing data from the Brazilian National Health Survey - 2013. Leisure-time physical activity was analyzed with two distinct cutoff points: 1) Some physical activity - 10 or more minutes/week; 2) Meeting recommended 150 minutes/week of physical activity. RESULTS: Nearly 21% of the older adults completed some physical activity, and 13.2% reached the physical activity recommendations. There was no difference in the prevalence of physical activity between men and women. Individuals aged 60-69 years and those with higher income were more active than their peers. As for the national regions, the North had the lowest prevalence of physically active older adults. Among all regions, walking was the most frequent form of physical activity practiced. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of older adults who practiced some physical activity and reached the physical activity recommendations was low, with walking being the most common form of physical activity. Older adults with higher age, low socioeconomic status and from the Northern Brazilian regions were the least active.

INTRODUÇÃO: Comportamentos saudáveis são fundamentais para um envelhecimento saudável. Nesse sentido, a prática de atividade física é um dos fatores que mais geram benefícios para a saúde dos indivíduos. OBJETIVO: Descrever a prevalência de atividade física no lazer entre idosos e analisá-la de acordo com características sociodemográficas, regiões nacionais, Unidades Federativas do Brasil e tipos de atividade física praticada. MÉTODOS: Estudo utilizando dados da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde - 2013. A atividade física no lazer foi analisada com dois pontos de corte distintos: 1) Praticar alguma atividade física - 10 minutos ou mais/semana; 2) Recomendações de atividade física no lazer - 150 minutos/semana. RESULTADOS: Cerca de 21% dos idosos realizaram alguma atividade física e 13,2% atingiram as recomendações de atividade física. Não houve diferença na prevalência de atividade física entre homens e mulheres. Os idosos mais jovens e aqueles com maior renda foram mais ativos que seus pares. Quanto às regiões nacionais, o Norte apresentou a menor prevalência de idosos fisicamente ativos. Entre todas as regiões, a caminhada foi a forma mais frequente de atividade física praticada. CONCLUSÃO: A prevalência de idosos que praticavam atividade física e atingiram as recomendações de atividade física foi baixa, sendo a caminhada a forma mais comum de atividade física. Os idosos mais velhos, de baixo nível socioeconômico e das regiões Norte do Brasil foram os menos ativos.

Exercise program on the health of people with epilepsy: protocol of a randomized controlled trial study

Abstract Aim: This study aimed to describe an experimental protocol to evaluate how a structured exercise program can impact on the health of people with epilepsy. Methods: For this purpose, a randomized control trial will be conducted in the city of Pelotas, southern Brazil. Participants will be randomized into two groups: 1) Control- maintain usual activities, and 2) Exercise- a structured exercise program, with two 60-minute sessions per week, for 12 weeks. The intervention will be composed by warm-up (5-minutes), moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (15-20 minutes, performed on a treadmill), resistance training (2-3 sets, 10-15 repetitions), and 5-minutes of stretching exercises. Sociodemographic characteristics, clinical information, cognitive function, anthropometric measurements (weight, height, hip and waist circumferences), cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max), and strength (dynamometer) will be measured at baseline and 12-week post-intervention. Participants will receive a diary to record their seizures throughout the study. Results: A structured exercise program is expected to generate beneficial health effects, and the results can assist in health professionals' clinical practice for people with epilepsy.