Abstract
With 23,398 fitness academies, catering for around seven million users, Brazil ranks second behind the United States in the number of units. The objective of this study is to delineate the profile of supervised physical activity practitioners in the three most southern states of Brazil (Parana, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul), analyzing the reasons which lead them to choose a fitness service. Fitness academy clients were also surveyed in relation to their alcohol, tobacco and food supplement usage. Seven hundred and ninety-seven (797) people were evaluated by means of a questionnaire. Data was collected in 24 fitness academies (eight in each state) in the three most southern states of Brazil. It was observed that those who practiced exercise regularly at fitness academies smoked little, consumed few food supplements, and with (50.44%) of those surveyed stating that they consumed only moderate amounts of alcohol. The majority, (34.13%) of exercise practitioners in southern Brazil chose to go to the gym five times a week, (40.99%) went at night, with (40.56%) giving as their reason for practicing exercise as being a way to improve their health. The distance between their home and the gym was the most important reason in choosing a place to conduct training. Intense individual activities were the most practiced type of exercise, there being no statistical difference between the percentages in the three states.
Highlights
With 23,398 fitness academies, catering for around seven million users, Brazil ranks second behind the United States in the number of units
Liz et al (2010) and Bartholomeu Neto et al (2013) contrary to this present study found that the clients reported that the main reasons they stopped attending fitness academies was due to; a lack of time, lack of motivation, distance of to the academy, monetary constraints and problems with classes and instructors
Gonçalves (2012), Portugal, found most spent between 50 to 99 Euros. These results demonstrate that residents of southern Brazil invest a large portion of their income on training compared to those in Portugal and America
Summary
With 23,398 fitness academies, catering for around seven million users, Brazil ranks second behind the United States in the number of units. According to the International Health & Racquet Sports Club Association (IHRSA, 2014), in the United States had 30,500 units. The relentless pursuit of an aesthetic model idealized by the media may be a factor in determining the reason why people practice supervised physical activities. Even with increasing numbers practicing physical exercise, only a small part of the national population exercise satisfactorily, as shown by statistics from the Ministério da Saúde do Brasil (MSB, 2013), which states that only 15.2% of the population practice physical activity in the way recommended. Moura et al (2008) reported that 14.9% of adults practiced 30 minutes of light or moderate physical activity on five or more days in the week or 20 minutes of vigorous activity three or more days in the week
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