OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between low levels of physical activity and consumption of fruits and vegetables among adolescents. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 2,057 adolescents aged 13 to 18 years from the city of Aracaju, Northeastern Brazil. We analyzed the level of physical activity, consumption of fruits and vegetables by standardized and validated questionnaires. The control variables were sex, age, socioeconomic status, maternal education, alcohol consumption and smoking. For data analysis, univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used, with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: The prevalence of low levels of physical activity was 81.9%; the inadequate consumption of fruits ocurred in 79.1% and the inadequate consumption of vegetables in 90.6%. Adolescents who consumed few fruits daily had an increase in 40% of chance of being insufficiently active and, for those who consumed few vegetable's the likelihood of being insufficiently active was 50% higher, compared to those who had adequate intake of these foods. CONCLUSIONS: Low levels of physical activity were associated with inadequate fruit and vegetable intake among adolescents in a city in northeastern Brazil. These findings suggest that insufficiently active adolescents have other unhealthy behaviors that may increase the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood.

Levels of aerobic fitness of children and adolescents are declining worldwide, which results in increased health risks. In Brazil, approximately 60% of the students present levels of fitness lower than recommended for age and sex. Our objective was to determine the influence of sexual maturation and physical activity level on cardiorespiratory fitness of schoolchildren of both sexes aged 9-14 years. This was a cross-sectional including a sample of 747 individuals (47.12% female) aged 9 to 14 years enrolled in public schools. The participants completed the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C) and a questionnaire on sexual maturation, and performed the shuttle run test. In order to verify the influence of sexual maturation on VO2max, students were categorized according to maturation stage (prepubertal, pubertal and postpubertal), sex, and interaction between sex and maturation. ANOVA was used to compare mean maturation stages and to assess whether sex and maturation affect VO2max. There was influence of maturation (p <0.0001; Eta2 = 0.069, power = 1) and sex (p <0.0001; Eta2 = 0.059, power = 1) on aerobic fitness. VO2max values were different between the maturation stages in both sexes, and between sexes at the same maturation stage. Maturation influenced VO2max with a decreasing linear trend (p <0.0001; Eta2 = 0.221, power = 1) for females. An influence of maturation and physical activity level on cardiorespiratory fitness was observed in schoolchildren of Aracaju city.

Levels of aerobic fitness of children and adolescents are declining worldwide, which results in increased health risks. In Brazil, approximately 60% of the students present levels of fitness lower than recommended for age and sex. Our objective was to determine the influence of sexual maturation and physical activity level on cardiorespiratory fitness of schoolchildren of both sexes aged 9-14 years. This was a cross-sectional including a sample of 747 individuals (47.12% female) aged 9 to 14 years enrolled in public schools. The participants completed the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C) and a questionnaire on sexual maturation, and performed the shuttle run test. In order to verify the influence of sexual maturation on VO2max, students were categorized according to maturation stage (prepubertal, pubertal and postpubertal), sex, and interaction between sex and maturation. ANOVA was used to compare mean maturation stages and to assess whether sex and maturation affect VO2max. There was influence of maturation (p <0.0001; Eta2 = 0.069, power = 1) and sex (p <0.0001; Eta2 = 0.059, power = 1) on aerobic fitness. VO2max values were different between the maturation stages in both sexes, and between sexes at the same maturation stage. Maturation influenced VO2max with a decreasing linear trend (p <0.0001; Eta2 = 0.221, power = 1) for females. An influence of maturation and physical activity level on cardiorespiratory fitness was observed in schoolchildren of Aracaju city.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between low levels of physical activity and consumption of fruits and vegetables among adolescents. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 2,057 adolescents aged 13 to 18 years from the city of Aracaju, Northeastern Brazil. We analyzed the level of physical activity, consumption of fruits and vegetables by standardized and validated questionnaires. The control variables were sex, age, socioeconomic status, maternal education, alcohol consumption and smoking. For data analysis, univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used, with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: The prevalence of low levels of physical activity was 81.9%; the inadequate consumption of fruits ocurred in 79.1% and the inadequate consumption of vegetables in 90.6%. Adolescents who consumed few fruits daily had an increase in 40% of chance of being insufficiently active and, for those who consumed few vegetable's the likelihood of being insufficiently active was 50% higher, compared to those who had adequate intake of these foods. CONCLUSIONS: Low levels of physical activity were associated with inadequate fruit and vegetable intake among adolescents in a city in northeastern Brazil. These findings suggest that insufficiently active adolescents have other unhealthy behaviors that may increase the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood.

Abstract The present study aimed to verify the contribution of different physical activity domains to “total physical activity” in Brazilian adolescents. This is a cross-sectional study using secondary data from the third edition of the National School Health Survey - PeNSE, 2015. The sample consisted of 100,497 adolescents of both sexes enrolled in the 9th grade of elementary schools. A linear regression model was used to verify how much each domain contributed to total physical activity, considering gender, type of municipality and region. The domain with the largest contribution to “total physical activity” regardless of sociodemographic and environmental variables was “extra-school physical activity” (R2 = 0.60), followed by “active commuting” (R2 = 0.34), and finally “Physical Education classes” (R2 = 0.23). The contribution of the different domains varied by gender, type of municipality and region, and it was concluded that “extra-school physical activity” make the greatest contribution to “total physical activity”, followed by “active commuting” and “Physical Education classes”. In addition, variation was observed in the contribution of domains by gender, type of municipality and region.

Abstract Aim: This study aimed to examine the association between physical activity (PA) indicators and TV viewing as a function of the Human Development Index (HDI). Method: This cross-sectional study was based on data from the National School Health Survey, which was composed of 102,072 students (14.28±1.03; 51.3% girls). Total PA, active commuting to school (ACS) and TV viewing were assessed by questionnaires and classified through a gradual scale ranging from “F” (low) to “A+” (high). The correlation between total PA, ACS, TV viewing and HDI was verified by Spearman’s Correlation and presented in rs. Results: HDI was positively associated with total PA [girls: rs = 0.572 (p < 0.001); boys: rs = 0.843 (p < 0.001)] and ACS [girls: rs = 0.433 (p < 0.001); boys: rs = 0.554 (p < 0.001)]; while a negative correlation was found between HDI and TV viewing [girls: rs = -0.330 (p < 0.001); boys: rs = -0.348 (p < 0.001)]. Conclusions: Brazilian adolescents from states with higher HDI were more active and spent more time watching TV than their counterparts from states with lower HDI.

Abstract Aims: 1) to identify the prevalence of active commuting to school (ACS) among Brazilian regions; and 2) to determine associated factors related to ACS in this population. Methods: Cross-sectional study comprising 16,493 adolescents (mean age 14.09±2.12 years). The data comes from the National School Health Survey (2015), and the information was collected by a self-reported questionnaire. Logistic regression models were performed to identify correlates of ACS. Results: Adolescents who live in the Southeast are more prone to have ACS compared to those who live in other regions. Do not have motor vehicles been positively associated with ACS [girls: 2.04 (1.72;2.42); boys 1.85(1.63;2.10)]. Those whom self-reported white was less prone to have ACS compared to their peers from other ethnicities. Those enrolled in private schools [girls: 0.43(0.34;0.54); boys (0.45(0.39;0.53)] and schools setting in rural area [girls: 0.38(0.25;0.57); boys: 0.51(0.37;71)] are less prone to show ACS. In addition, adolescents who accumulated less active time during physical education classes [girls: 0.80(0.66;0.97)] and extracurricular shifts [boys: 0.69(0.60;0.80)] were less prone to have an ACS, compared to their most active peers. Lastly, girls who spent ≤ 2 hours presented fewer odds to have an ACS [0.75(0.63;0.90)]. Conclusions: ACS was most prevalent among those who live in the Southeast region and seems to be negativity associated with the socioeconomic level. Moreover, less active adolescents during both school and leisure time may be more prone to have passive travel go/from school.

Abstract The registration or insertion of older adults in Community Physical Activity Programs does not guarantee their stay over time. The purpose of this study was to analyze the length of stay of elderly in a Community Physical Activity Program and associated factors. This epidemiologic observational study of retrospective cohort performed in Aracaju City, Brazil, included a sample of 526 older adults (477 females) aged 66.4 ± 5.4 years. To characterize the profile and length of stay of individuals, descriptive statistics was used. To analyze the length of stay, the Kaplan-Meier non-parametric survival, estimator was used. To verify the association between variables in the observed time, the Cox regression model was applied. Inverse ratio equation (1/OR) was used to facilitate the understanding of significant values when necessary. In all analyses, 95% confidence interval and p≤0.05 were used. In the first three months, stay rate of 58.1% (95% CI = 54.6 - 61.3) was observed, with a risk estimative = 41.82%. Females presented a 45% chance of stay (OR = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.51 – 0.93) and individuals identified with osteoporosis had 32% more chances of stay (OR = 0.74, 95% CI, = 0.60-0.91). Only 1% of subjects remained until the end of the cohort. The stay rate was low throughout all series; the period with higher quitting rates was the 3rd and the 12th months, being associated with the female stay sex and undiagnosed osteoporosis.

Abstract Aim: This study aimed to examine the association between physical activity (PA) indicators and TV viewing as a function of the Human Development Index (HDI). Method: This cross-sectional study was based on data from the National School Health Survey, which was composed of 102,072 students (14.28±1.03; 51.3% girls). Total PA, active commuting to school (ACS) and TV viewing were assessed by questionnaires and classified through a gradual scale ranging from “F” (low) to “A+” (high). The correlation between total PA, ACS, TV viewing and HDI was verified by Spearman’s Correlation and presented in rs. Results: HDI was positively associated with total PA [girls: rs = 0.572 (p < 0.001); boys: rs = 0.843 (p < 0.001)] and ACS [girls: rs = 0.433 (p < 0.001); boys: rs = 0.554 (p < 0.001)]; while a negative correlation was found between HDI and TV viewing [girls: rs = -0.330 (p < 0.001); boys: rs = -0.348 (p < 0.001)]. Conclusions: Brazilian adolescents from states with higher HDI were more active and spent more time watching TV than their counterparts from states with lower HDI.

Abstract Aims: 1) to identify the prevalence of active commuting to school (ACS) among Brazilian regions; and 2) to determine associated factors related to ACS in this population. Methods: Cross-sectional study comprising 16,493 adolescents (mean age 14.09±2.12 years). The data comes from the National School Health Survey (2015), and the information was collected by a self-reported questionnaire. Logistic regression models were performed to identify correlates of ACS. Results: Adolescents who live in the Southeast are more prone to have ACS compared to those who live in other regions. Do not have motor vehicles been positively associated with ACS [girls: 2.04 (1.72;2.42); boys 1.85(1.63;2.10)]. Those whom self-reported white was less prone to have ACS compared to their peers from other ethnicities. Those enrolled in private schools [girls: 0.43(0.34;0.54); boys (0.45(0.39;0.53)] and schools setting in rural area [girls: 0.38(0.25;0.57); boys: 0.51(0.37;71)] are less prone to show ACS. In addition, adolescents who accumulated less active time during physical education classes [girls: 0.80(0.66;0.97)] and extracurricular shifts [boys: 0.69(0.60;0.80)] were less prone to have an ACS, compared to their most active peers. Lastly, girls who spent ≤ 2 hours presented fewer odds to have an ACS [0.75(0.63;0.90)]. Conclusions: ACS was most prevalent among those who live in the Southeast region and seems to be negativity associated with the socioeconomic level. Moreover, less active adolescents during both school and leisure time may be more prone to have passive travel go/from school.