Fontes de informacao sobre a importancia da atividade fisica: estudo de base populacional / Sources of information on the benefi ts of physical activity: population-based study

RESUMO

A comunidade cientifica esta ciente dos efeitos positivos da atividade fisica na prevencao de doencas cronicas e na promocao da saude. No entanto, pouco se sabe sobre as fontes de informacao populacionais referentes a pratica de atividade fisica. O objetivo do estudo foi investigar as fontes de informacao sobre a importancia da atividade fisica em adultos. Foram entrevistadas 972 pessoas com idade entre 20 e 69 anos, selecionados por amostragem aleatoria, da zona urbana de Pelotas-RS. As fontes de informacao presentes como opcoes de resposta no questionario eram televisao, revista, professor de educacao fisica, medico e outros. Dos entrevistados, 76,1% relataram ter recebido alguma informacao sobre a importancia da atividade fisica a saude. A televisao (27,5%) foi o principal meio de divulgacao da pratica de atividade fisica, seguido do professor de Educacao Fisica (22,1%), do medico (18,4%) e de outros (25,7%). Um quinto da amostra nao recebeu nenhuma informacao referente a pratica de atividade fisica, e apesar de esforcos dos profissionais da area da saude, a televisao ainda e o principal veiculo de divulgacao.

ABSTRACT

The scientific community is currently aware of the benefi cial eff ects of physical activity practice both for preventing chronic diseases and for promoting health. However, little is known on the sources of information on the benefi ts of physical given to the population. The aim of the present study was to investigate the sources of physical activity advice in adults. We interviewed 972 individuals aged 20-69 years of age, who were selected through a multistage random sampling strategy in the urban area of Pelotas, Brazil. The potential sources of physical activity advice included in the questionnaire were television, magazines, physical education teacher, physicians and others. Out of the subjects included, 76.1% reported to have received physical activity advice at least once. The television (27.5%) was the most frequently reported source of such advice, followed by physical education teachers (22.1%), physicians (18.4%) and others (25.7). One fifth of the population did not receive advice on physical activity, and in spite of the efforts of health professionals, the television is still the main source of physical activity advice at the population level.