Abstract
BackgroundLow levels of physical activity (PA) and prolonged sitting time (ST) increase the risk of non-communicable diseases and mortality, and can be influenced by socio-demographic characteristics. The aim of this study was to use self-report data to characterise socio-demographic patterns of PA and ST in eight Latin American countries.MethodsData were obtained from the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health (ELANS), a household population-based, multi-national, cross-sectional survey (n = 9218, aged 15–65 years), collected from September 2014 to February 2015. Transport and leisure PA and ST were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–long version. Overall and country-specific mean and median levels of time spent in transport and leisure PA and ST were compared by sex, age, socioeconomic and education level.ResultsMean levels of transport and leisure PA were 220.3 min/week (ranging from 177.6 min/week in Venezuela to 275.3 min/week in Costa Rica) and 316.4 min/week (ranging from 272.1 min/week in Peru to 401.4 min/week in Ecuador). Transport and leisure PA were higher (p < 0.005) in men than women with mean differences of 58.0 and 34.0 min/week. The mean and median for transport PA were similar across age groups (15–29 years: mean 215.5 and median 120 min/week; 30–59 years: mean 225.0 and median 120 min/week; ≥60 years: mean 212.0 and median 120 min/week). The median time spent in transport and leisure PA between three strata of socioeconomic and education levels were similar. The prevalence of not meeting PA recommendations were 69.9% (95% CI: 68.9–70.8) for transport and 72.8% (95% CI: 72.0–73.7) for leisure. Men, younger people (15–29 years), individuals with higher socioeconomic and education levels spent significantly (p < 0.001) more time sitting than women, older people (30–59 years and ≥ 60 years) and those in the middle and low socioeconomic and education groups, respectively.ConclusionsTransport and leisure PA and ST range widely by country, sex, and age group in Latin America. Programs for promoting leisure and transport PA and reducing ST in Latin America should consider these differences by age and gender and between countries.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.Gov NCT02226627. Retrospectively registered on August 27, 2014.
Highlights
The incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is increasing throughout the developing world; causing more than 16 million deaths each year, 80% of which occur in low and middle-income countries [1]
About half were classified as having a low socioeconomic level (52.0%; 95% confidence intervals (95% CI): 51.0–53.0) and/or low educational level (61.2%; 95% CI: 60.3–62.3) (Table 1)
Venezuela had the lowest values, and the highest average was in Costa Rica
Summary
The incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is increasing throughout the developing world; causing more than 16 million deaths each year, 80% of which occur in low and middle-income countries [1]. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of cardiovascular mortality [2]. As distinct from physical activity, encompasses a broad range of behaviors that involve a sitting or reclining posture and do not increase energy expenditure above 1.5 metabolic equivalents during waking time [6]. Sedentary behaviours are associated with CVD, cancer and all-cause mortality, independent of physical activity [7]. Current physical activity guidelines do not prescribe a quantitative guideline for sitting time [4, 8]. Low levels of physical activity (PA) and prolonged sitting time (ST) increase the risk of noncommunicable diseases and mortality, and can be influenced by socio-demographic characteristics. The aim of this study was to use self-report data to characterise socio-demographic patterns of PA and ST in eight Latin American countries
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