Factores asociados a inactividad física en Chile: resultados de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud 2009-2010 / Correlates of physical inactivity: Findings from the Chilean National Health Survey 2009-2010

Background: Physical inactivity is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Aim: To identify factors associated with physical inactivity in Chilean adults. Material and Methods: Participants from the Chilean Health Survey (5,133 individuals) were included in this study. Physical activity was measured using the Global physical activity questionnaire (GPAQ). Physical inactivity was defined as < 600 MET. min.week−1 of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity. Logistic regression was used to identify correlates of physical inactivity. Results: The main finding of this study were that women (odds ratio (OR): 1.51 [95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.32-1.72]) were more likely to be inactive compared to men and that older adults were more likely to be inactive than their younger or middle age counterparts (OR: 3.06 [95% CI: 2.45-3.82]). Other correlates of physical inactivity were individuals with obesity (OR: 1.43 [95% CI: 1.20-1.70]), diabetes (OR: 1.96 [95% CI: 1.61-2.38]), hypertension (OR: 1.72 [95% CI: 1.50-1.97]), metabolic syndrome (OR: 1.42 [95% IC: 1.18-1.70]), a low education level (OR: 1.26 [95% CI: 1.06-1.49]) and higher levels of sedentary behavior (OR: 2.77 [95% CI: 2.36-3.25]). Conclusions: Women, older people and sedentary subjects with chronic non-transmissible conditions are at higher risk of being physically inactive.

Efectos del ejercicio físico de alta intensidad y sobrecarga en parámetros de salud metabólica en mujeres sedentarias, pre-diabéticas con sobrepeso u obesidad / Effect of sprint interval training and resistance exercise on metabolic markers in overweight women

Background: Physical activity is associated with an improvement in cardiovascular health, however there is a paucity of information about the effects of sprint interval training on individuals with high metabolic risk. Aim: To determine the effects of three exercise programs on anthropometric and metabolic markers in overweight, sedentary and prediabetic women. Material and Methods: Forty three women were ascribed to four groups matched by body mass index and body fat: high intensity intervals (HIT, n = 12), resistance (R, n = 8), combined group (HIT +R, n = 10) and control group (CG, n = 13). Participants completed 12 weeks of exercise intervention. Body mass index, waist circumference, percentage of fat mass measured by impedanciometry, blood pressure, fasting glucose, insulin and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMAlR) and fitness assessed using the two km walk test were measured at baseline and after the training period. Results: No changes in anthropometric and body composition variables were observed. However, in HIT and R groups, significant reductions were observed on fasting glucose (5.4 and 16.6% respectively), insulin (18.6 and 43.4% respectively) and HOMA IR (24.1 and 55.4% respectively), 72 hours after the intervention. No significant changes were found for the observed values in the combined and control groups. Conclusions: HIT and resistance training improve glycemic control and insulin sensitivity in females with a high metabolic risk.