Nível de Atividade Física e saúde: uma abordagem descritiva do perfil dos professores da educação básica da rede pública de uma cidade do interior do estado de Minas Gerais

The health benefits of physical activity are widely recognized in the scientific literature. Elementary school teachers are a working class that faces significant challenges, such as unhealthy working conditions and the devaluation of the profession. The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of physical activity of basic education teachers in a city in the interior of MG, in addition to bringing a descriptive profile in relation to the factors associated with the regular practice of physical activity and health. The sample, of the non-probabilistic convenience type, was composed of 79 teachers from the public elementary school system, the majority of whom were female (88.6%) and with an average age of 41.2 ± 9.2 years. Data collection was performed by e-mail, using the short version of the IPAQ. Of the teachers, 55.1% were class teachers and the remainder taught one or more subjects. Regarding nutritional status, 43.1% were overweight, and 16.4% were at some level of obesity. Regarding physical activity, 64.5% of participants reached the levels recommended by the WHO, and 67.1% reported a reduction in physical activity during the pandemic. Although the level of physical activity observed in the study group is higher than the national average, the data indicate a concern about the prevalence of overweight, obesity and other health problems among teachers. Therefore, it is important to carry out further studies, aiming at the implementation of actions aimed at improving the quality of life of basic education teachers.