Comparação do nível de atividade física e comportamento sedentário de idosos que praticam e não praticam exercícios físicos

Abstract

Introduction: Regular physical activity is essential for healthy, quality aging, preventing and combating diseases. Objective: To determine the level of physical activity and sedentary behavior among elderly individuals who participate and those who do not participate in a regular physical exercise program. Methods: Observational study, with a sample consisting of elderly individuals of both sexes. The usual level of physical activity was measured using accelerometry. Data normality was verified using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Results: A greater daily time in ATMV (Δ = 14.0 [95% CI: 7.9 to 20.2]; p < 0.001) and a greater number of daily steps (Δ = 925.7 [95% CI = 301.5 to 1550.0]; p = 0.004) were observed in the regular physical exercise group compared to the non-regular physical exercise group. The average level of MVPA (min/day) was 37.36 min/day for the group that practices regular physical activity and 23.28 min/day for the other group. Conclusion: The MVPA recommendations were met by 74.7% of the group that practices regular physical exercise and by 25.3% of the group that does not practice regular physical exercise.