Fatores associados ao tempo e intensidade da atividade física diária medida por acelerometria em adultos de origem germânica do sul do Brasil: estudo transversal de base populacional

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) is beneficial for health, but gaps remain regarding the variables associated with the duration and intensity of PA in a Brazilian adult population of Germanic origin.OBJECTIVE: To analyze PA duration and intensity associated with socioeconomic, lifestyle, and health condition variables.METHODS: Cross-sectional study involving 526 adults of both sexes, aged between 20 and 59 years, participating in the “Life and Health in Pomerode - SHIP-Brazil” study. The outcomes were light physical activity (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and MVPA in bouts measured by accelerometry. Simple and multiple linear regressions were used to identify associated variables.RESULTS: The mean time spent in LPA was 298.8 min/day, and in MVPA was 23.0 min/day. MVPA in bouts averaged 5.6 bouts of ≥10 min. LPA was higher with advancing age and lower among women, individuals with higher education, a higher number of chronic diseases, good/very good self-rated health, and low alcohol consumption. MVPA was higher with advancing age and lower among females and those with a higher number of chronic diseases, including MVPA in bouts. Adults with an adequate waist-to-hip ratio accumulated more time in MVPA in bouts.CONCLUSION: There is a need to encourage PA across all intensities, particularly targeting younger adults, women, individuals with chronic diseases, and those with higher central obesity.