Condições de saúde em população submetida a um programa de promoção da atividade física : associações transversais e longitudinais

Abstract

Introduction: promoting physical activity in communities requires the creation of models based on evidence to guide current and future activities in the area of public health. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a program to promote physical activity titled City Academy, Aracaju-SE, Brazil, on the health of users of the program. Methods: The design used was a mixed model with transverse and longitudinal analyzes; The sample was divided into three categories: users, ex-users and non-users of the physical activity program; selected for collection variables were: smoking, morbidity, time watching television, levels of physical activity, overweight and obesity, self-rated health, physical health, mental health, limitations in physical and mental health; the instrument used was a questionnaire used in the form of an interview, a portable scale with an accuracy of 0.1 grams and a portable stadiometer accurate to 0.1 cm; the instrument was administered on two occasions, in 2008 and in 2010, the same sub-groups, with at first a total of 875 individuals and 727 individuals in a second time. Results: There were significant differences between ex-users and non-users compared to users in the transverse mode at baseline in most indicators evaluated, with the magnitude of the differences increased after two years; to analyze the longitudinal mode was observed in all indicators significant difference with advancing years, both in ex-users and non-users in using the users as reference. The results of this study suggest positive associations between health indicators selected for this study only the population of users of the PAC. In general, the sub-group of non-users had worse conditions than former users in health variables investigated. Conclusion: The intervention model used in the Academy program of the City of Aracaju, SE, Brazil, may be an effective strategy in health indicators of communities.