IMPACT OF A MULTI-LEVEL INTERVENTION PROGRAM ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVEL IN A MEGA-POPULATION

Abstract

Sedentarism prevalence reached about 70% in early 90's in the city of São Paulo, in a Brazilian state with a population around 36 million inhabitants. Trying to promote physical activity (PA), Agita São Paulo, a multi-level intervention was launched using the CDC/ACSM recommendation as the main message. Three settings were established: home, transport, and leisure. Target groups defined were: a- students from elementary to college; b- blue and white collar workers; and c- elderly people. PURPOSE: the central focus of this paper was to verify the impact of the program on PA levels after three years in the São Paulo metropolitan region. METHODS: Level of PA activity was determined using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), obtained by means of a home-based interview [n: 613 men (306) and women (307), over 18 yrs-old], in São Paulo Metropolitan area. Sample was randomized according to sex, age, socio-economic, and educational levels. RESULTS: Positive recall for the program brand reached 55.7% in the Metropolitan area. When walking was not included, 39.7% reached the CDC/ACSM recommendation (32.1% men; 47.4% women), while 32% were inactive (40.9% men; 23% women). However, when walking was considered, 54.8% reached the recommendation (48.7% men; 61.0% women). Regular PA criteria according to CDC/ACSM recommendation was slightly more common among whose knew the message (59.5%) than among who did not (53.95). It was remarkable that sedentarism was higher (80.4%) among whose did not know the Agita message (13.1%) than among the ones who knew the program message (7.1%). CONCLUSION: even considering that former criteria of physical activity status was not the same, present results suggest a decline in sedentarism prevalence, particularly among women in the São Paulo metropolitan region.