Abstract
Abstract Aim: To examine the association between environmental and individual characteristics and utilization pattern of Outdoor Fitness Zones (OFZ) with the volume of utilization of these public spaces in Uberaba, Brazil. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Data collection was conducted using “in loco” interviews (three different days and times) and direct observation of nine OFZ. Poisson regression analysis was used to estimate prevalence ratios using the volume of utilization higher than 90 min per week as the dependent variable and a collection of socio-demographic, environmental, utilization pattern, and OFZ characteristics as independent variables. Results: Adjusted analysis revealed that volume of utilization higher than 90 min per week of OFZ was associated with a higher prevalence ratio among users utilizing such spaces to meet friends sometimes (PR = 2.43; 1.21-4.90) and always (PR = 3.43; 1.61-7.34) compared to not meeting friends. A lower prevalence ratio was found in users who attend the OFZ only during the week or only weekend days (PR = 0.52; 0.37-0.73) compared to a user who attends both (week and weekends days). OFZ not providing a space for walking or jogging (PR = 0.48; 0.23-0.99) were also associated with a lower prevalence ratio of utilization higher than 90 min per week. Conclusions: The findings demonstrated that most individual and environmental characteristics and utilization patterns of the OFZ in the city of Uberaba, MG, Brazil, were not associated with the volume of utilization. Users who meet friends and attend both week and weekend days OFZ that features walking or running trails were associated with a higher volume of utilization.
Highlights
Physical inactivity is a global public health challenge[1]
In Curitiba, a city in the Southeast of Brazil, it was observed that the pattern of use and the physical activity level of the users may vary according to the income of the neighborhood in which the Outdoor Fitness Zones (OFZ) is located[9], while in a different study conducted in the South of Brazil, women and lowincome individuals reported higher use of OFZs for physical activity purposes
The present study examined the association between the weekly volume of utilization of OFZs with individual and environmental characteristics, as well as with the utilization pattern of these public spaces in the city of Uberaba, Brazil
Summary
Physical inactivity is a global public health challenge[1]. Despite increasing efforts to promote physical activity in different populations, a significant amount of the world's population does not reach the minimum amount of recommended physical activity per week[2], from 150-300 min of moderate physical activity, to promote health benefits in adults[3]. There is compelling evidence of the association between a physically inactive lifestyle and an increased risk for a large array of adverse health outcomes including, but not limited to, chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer[4]. These conditions account for over five million deaths per year[5].
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