A cross-cultural study of physical activity and sedentariness in youth from Mozambique and Portugal

Abstract Aim: The purpose of this study was to analyse the effects of age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and country of origin (Mozambique versus Portugal) on physical activity and sedentariness. Methods: Sample size was comprised of 593 adolescents from Mozambique (n=258) and Portugal (n=335), aged 10-15 years old. Height and weight were measured, and BMI was computed; furthermore, subjects were classified in two groups (normal weight and overweight/obese). The mean time (min/day) spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light physical activity (LPA), and sedentary activity were assessed using the GT3X Actigraph accelerometer over at least 4 days (1 weekend day) with a minimum of 10 hours/day of monitoring. Multiple regression analysis was done in SPSS 20. Results: A low percentage of Mozambican (3.9%) and Portuguese (4.3%) youth complied with the MVPA recommendations (60min·day-1). However, Portuguese boys spend more time in MVPA. Girls and those with higher BMI spend more time in sedentary activities and less time in MVPA and LPA; older adolescents spend more time in sedentary activities and less time in LPA. There is a significant effect of the country of origin on MVPA, favouring Portuguese youth. Conclusions: Results suggest country differences in MVPA between Mozambican and Portuguese youth - the Mozambicans are less involved in MVPA than the Portuguese, probably reinforcing the undesirable effect of the urbanization process in developing nations.

El sedentarismo es / Sedentariness is

Resumen En este artículo se hizo un análisis crítico del sentido de sedentarismo/sedentario que circula en la literatura pertinente al campo de la actividad física y la salud. Destaca dos "familias" distintas de sedentarios surgidas en dos momentos históricos específicos: el sedentario "cooperiano", oriundo de los preceptos de la aptitud física difundidos en Brasil al principio de los años 1970 por Kenneth Cooper; el sedentario "agitoniano", proveniente de las recomendaciones de actividad física moderada de mediados de los años 1990, propagadas de modo más evidente en Brasil por el programa Agita São Paulo. Entre tantas acepciones posibles, prevalece la noción de que el sedentarismo es agente catalizador de muchas características "malas", una plaga silenciosa, que lentamente envenena el cuerpo y debilita el alma.

Abstract This text is a critical analysis of the construction of sedentary behavior and lifestyle, or "sedentariness," that circulates in the scientific literature pertaining to the field of physical activity and health in Brazil. It highlights two "families" of sedentary types that came into being in two specific historical moments: the "cooperian" sedentary, who derives from the precepts of physical fitness disseminated in Brazil at the beginning of the 1970s by Kenneth Cooper; the "agitonian" sedentary, who emerged in the mid-1990s out of the guidelines for moderate physical activity propagated in Brazil, most notably by the Agita São Paulo health program. Among the various possible readings of this body of scholarship is that it constructs sedentariness as a catalyst for many "negative" outcomes - it is portrayed as a silent scourge that slowly poisons the body and weakens the soul.

Salud: entre la actividad física y el sedentarismo / Health: between physical activity and sedentariness

El presente artículo se centra en el rol que desempeña la actividad física (AF) en la salud pública, destacando el papel en la prevención de la morbimortalidad producto de las enfermedades crónicas asociadas a la nutrición y muertes prematuras. La evidencia de asociación entre la actividad física y salud, ampliamente sustentada dentro de la literatura científica, justifica su consideración dentro de los programas de promoción de la salud a nivel mundial. La estrategia de búsqueda se focalizó en las reseñas históricas de los beneficios de la actividad física, como factor que subyace en el concepto de vida saludable. En este sentido se hace hincapié en la relación entre la inactividad física y la existencia de ciertos tipos de enfermedades cardio-metabólicas, la posible asociación entre la AF y las funciones cognoscitivas y la aparición del sobrepeso y obesidad el cual constituyen en la actualidad, un problema de salud pública a nivel mundial. De igual manera se plantea dentro de la revisión analizada, el efecto de los cambios demográficos que propician la conducta sedentaria, las diversas metodologías empleadas para la evaluación de la A.F. y el sedentarismo, especialmente las encuestas diseñadas al efecto; datos sobre el nivel de la misma y conducta sedentaria en diferentes grupos de edad y algunos países latinoamericanos, consideraciones sobre las disposiciones legales que norman la actividad física especialmente en el ámbito escolar y, finalmente, ciertas estrategias urbanas e intervenciones empleadas en distintos grupos de edad para aminorar el efecto del sedentarismo(AU)

This article focuses on the role played by physical activity (PA) on public health, highlighting the role in preventing morbidity and mortality from chronic diseases, associated with quality of nutrition and premature deaths. Evidence of the association between physical activity and health, widely supported in the scientific literature, justify its consideration within the global health promotion programs. The research strategy focuses on the historical reviews of the benefits of physical activity, as a factor underlying the concept of healthy life. In this sense emphasis on relationship between physical inactivity and the existence of certain types of cardio-metabolic diseases, the possible association between P.A. and cognitive functions and the occurrence of overweight and obesity, which are now worldwide public health problems, were surveyed. Similarly, the review intends to summarize the effect of demographic changes that encourage sedentary behavior, different methodologies to assess P.A. and sedentariness, its current status in different groups of ages and in some Latin America countries, considerations for the legal provisions governing the physical activity, especially at school age and, finally, certain urban strategies and interventions employed in different age groups to lessen the effect of the sedentary lifestyle(AU)

Educação física escolar e sedentarismo infantil: uma análise comportamental / Childhood sedentary lifestyle and physical education at school: a behavioral analysis / Educación física y el sedentarismo en la niñez: un análisis conductual

Cada vez mais, pesquisadores vêm se dedicando à análise do comportamento com o propósito de propiciar soluções para problemas sociais complexos. Entre estes, encontra-se o sedentarismo infantil, cuja prática é considerada um problema de saúde pública. Com o objetivo de identificar, descrever e analisar contingências a partir de relatos verbais no contexto da educação física escolar, expõe-se, neste artigo, uma pesquisa desenvolvida com três professores de educação física e seus 62 alunos. O resultado obtido introduz sugere a adoção de ações efetivas que podem nortear políticas públicas voltadas para a redução de riscos à saúde

There have been many researchers dedicating themselves to analyze behavior to get solutions to social problems. The practice of childhood sedentary lifestyle is a complex problem that evokes a public health concern. This article exposes a work field in which researches identify, describe and analyze verbal reports about effective contingencies at school. It introduces the practices of three teachers of physical education and their 62 students. The results suggest that actions that can support public policies toward mitigating health risks

Los investigadores se dedican cada vez más al Análisis del Comportamiento a fin de indicar soluciones a problemas sociales complejos. Entre éstos, se encuentra el sedentarismo infantil, cuya práctica es considerada un problema de salud pública. Con el objetivo de identificar, describir y analizar contingencias desde relatos verbales en el contexto de la educación física escolar, se expone, en este artículo, una investigación hecha a tres maestros y sus 62 pupilos. El resultado obtenido sugiere la adopción de medidas eficaces que pueden orientar las políticas públicas compartidas para reducir los riesgos de salud

Relacion entre la capacidad de agencia de autocuidado y los factores de riesgo cardiovascular / Relationship between the ability of agency self-care and risk factors for cardiovascular

Pregunta de investigación:¿Cómo se relacionan los Factores de Riesgo Cardiovascular, Sedentarismo y Obesidad, con la capacidad de agencia de autocuidado (la capacidad del individuo para comprometerse consu autocuidado) en personas hospitalizadas con diagnostico de Hipertensión Arterial en la Clínica del country? Objetivo Describir la relación existente entre los Factores de riesgo cardiovascular, Sedentarismo y Obesidad con la Capacidad de agencia de autocuidado, en personas hospitalizadas con diagnóstico de hipertensión arterial. Diseño Estudio de tipo descriptivo, correlacional, cuantitativo. Población y Y Lugar La muestra estuvo constituido por 90 personas hospitalizadas con diagnóstico de hipertensión arterial en la Clínica del Country, Colombia, durante los meses diciembre de 2004 y abril de 2005. Intercenciones Se evaluó la capacidad de agencia de autocuidado mediante la escala “apreciación de la agencia de autocuidado” de Isenberg y Evers; el índice de masa corporal y el índice de actividad - ejercicio de los participantes. Resultados Los hallazgos mostraron una correlación significativa y negativa entre las variables Capacidad de Agencia de autocuidado e Índice de masa corporal y una correlación positiva moderada y significativa entre las variables Capacidad de Agencia de autocuidado e Índice de actividad y ejercicio.

Question How is the relation between factors of cardiovascular risk, Sedentariness and Obesity with the self-care capacity of agency, in people hospitalized with diagnosis of arterial hypertension in the Country Clinic? Objective Determine the existing relation between Design Descriptive, corelational, quantitative study, Population and Place In 90 people hospitalized with arterial hypertension in the Country Clinic Bogotá-Colombia, made in the period between December of 2004 and April of 2005 Interventions The capacity of agency was evaluated of self-care by means of the scale "appreciation of the autocuidado agency" of Isenberg and Evers; the index of corporal mass of the participants and the index of activity - exercise of the participants. Results The findings showed to a signifi cant and negative correlation between the variables autocuidado Agency of and Index of corporal mass and a moderate and significant positive correlation between the variables Agency of autocuidado and Index of activity and exercise. Conclusions The hypertensive people with smaller level of activity and exercise and with greater index of corporal mass are associated with low levels in the taken care of agency of the own one. To work the autocuidado one in the community is a task that must begin in the familiar nucleus making emphasis in the education of is practices from the childhood, that allows to recognize the importance of maintaining life styles healthful, the empowerment of the autocuidado one, the motivation to assume the commitment of self-care themselves and making the decision to take an active life.