Physical activity and perceived environment among adults from a city in Southern Brazilian.

Atividade física e percepção do ambiente em adultos de uma cidade do Sul do Brasil. (Portuguese)

The article aimed to verify the association between physical activity (PA) and perceived environment among adults from a city in southern Brazil. This is a population-based cross-sectional study with 820 adults living in the city of Criciúma-SC. Perceived environment was assessed using the Neighborhood Environmental Walkability scale and PA in the leisure and transportation domains using the long version of the International PA Questionnaire. It was observed that the neighborhood with public spaces for the practice of physical exercises and dog walking was associated with higher prevalence of compliance with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) guidelines. The fact of having an invitation from friends and/or relatives for PA, sporting events and the habit of dog walking were associated with leisure-time walking. Access to places for the purchase of fresh fruits/ vegetables, light/diet foods, to have sidewalks in most streets, to have pedestrian crossings and sporting events in the neighborhood were associated with higher prevalence of active transportation. Conversely, places for snacks or fast food in the neighborhood were associated with lower prevalence of active transportation. The perception of environmental variables was associated with MVPA, walking and active transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

O objetivo foi verificar a associação entre a prática de atividade física (AF) e a percepção do ambiente em adultos de uma cidade do Sul do Brasil. Estudo transversal de base populacional com 820 adultos, residentes na cidade de Criciúma-SC. A percepção do ambiente foi avaliada pela escala Neighborhood Environmental Walkability, e a AF no domínio do lazer e transporte ativo pela versão longa do Questionário Internacional de AF. Observou-se que o bairro com lugar público para a prática de exercícios físicos e o fato de passear com o cachorro estiveram associados a maiores prevalências de atendimento às recomendações de AF moderada à vigorosa (AFMV). O fato de ter convite de amigos e/ou parentes para AF, a realização de eventos esportivos e o hábito de passear com o cachorro estiveram associados à caminhada no lazer. O acesso a locais para aquisição de frutas/legumes frescos, alimentos light/diet, ter calçadas na maioria das ruas, ter faixas de segurança e ter eventos esportivos no bairro estiveram associados a maiores prevalências de deslocamento ativo. De forma contrária, lugares para lanches ou fast-food no bairro se associaram a menor prevalência de deslocamento ativo. A percepção de variáveis do ambiente esteve associada à AFMV, à prática de caminhada e ao transporte ativo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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