Trends in different domains of physical activity in Brazilian adults: data from the Vigitel survey, 2006-2016

Abstract

The study aimed to analyze trends in different domains of physical activity in Brazilian adults according to sex, age bracket, and schooling. The data were from the Risk and Protective Factors Surveillance System for Chronic Non-Comunicable Diseases Through Telephone Interview (Vigitel) from 2006 to 2016 in all the state capitals and the Federal District. The main questions in the Vigitel survey that were relevant to this study were leisure-time, commuting, occupational, and household physical activity. Trend analysis was obtained with Prais-Winsten regression, with significance set at 5%. The overall results showed an upward trend in leisure-time physical activity, from 14.9% in 2006 to 20.8% in 2016, with a significant annual increase of 3.6%, while physical activity was stationary in the other domains. The trend was also upward for both sexes in leisure time, while there were downward annual trends for men in the occupational domain (-0.6%) and for women in the household domain (-1.9%), from 71.6% in 2006 to 55.6% in 2016. There were downward trends in individuals from 20 to 29 years of age in the occupational domain (-1.6%) and household domain (-4.3%), from 30 to 39 years in the commuting domain (-5.9%) and household domain (-1.6%), and for individuals with ≥ 12 years of schooling in the occupational domain (-0.6%). The most important public health target related to physical activity is to increase this practice among individuals that are currently inactive in all domains.