Evolution of Physical Activity Level of People Over 50-Years Old Involved in a Community Physical Activity Promotion Program

Abstract

PURPOSE: the focus of this paper was to verify the evolution of physical activity level (PA) of people over 50 years-old from a region under a PA intervention program (Agita São Paulo). METHODS: Total sample comprised 494 subjects, 50–88 yrs-old (62.2+9.0 years-old): 220 in 1999 (102 men, 118 women), and 274 in 2004 (144 men, 130 women). Sample was randomized according to sex, age, socio-economic, and educational status. Physical activity level (sedentary, irregularly active, active, very active) was determined using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), version 8th, short, last week form, obtained by means of a home-based interview. Data were analyzed using two proportion test. The level of significance adopted was p <.05. RESULTS: prevalence of active people increased about 61% while the irregularly active decreased 60.0% (p <0.05). The prevalence of sedentary people diminished 30.7%, and very active diminished almost 33% but those values were no significant (p >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: data suggested that PA intervention problem could contribute to increase the PA level of the population over 50-years old by changing specially people from irregularly active to active level.Figure