| dc.description.abstract | PURPOSE: Most of the evidence in physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) has been
obtained from developed countries; however in order to promote and improve global and local
interventions, evidence from developing countries is needed. The purpose of this study was to
describe the PA levels and SB in the Chilean population.
METHODS: In 2009, a National Health Survey (ENS2010) was conducted in Chile in a randomized and
representative sample of each of the 13 regions (urban and rural). Participants were visited twice
for collection of demographic data and laboratory tests. The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire
(GPAQ) was used to measure PA and SB. In addition, a randomized subsample wore an ActiGraph
GT3X (AG) for at least 7 days.
RESULTS: A total of 5196 adults (40.0% male; age= 47.9(SD 18.0); BMI= 28.1 kg•m2 (SD 5.4))
completed the ENS-2010. Overall, GPAQ showed that 33.9%, 19.1% and 47.0% had low, moderate
and high PA levels, respectively. Accumulated PA totalled 68% while working, 25% during
transportation, and 7% in leisure activities. Only 15% reported leisure PA and 92.7% do not perform
30 or more minutes of PA at least 3 times per week. Based on AG data (N=207; 44% male; age=45.1
(SD 14.8); BMI= 27.4 kg•m2 (SD 4.8)), the mean times spent in sedentary, light, moderate, and
vigorous activities were 553 (SD=171), 317 (SD=98), 35 (SD=26) and 5 (SD=8) min•d-1, respectively.
When moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) was calculated for ≥10-min bouts, 5.8% met the PA
guidelines (MVPA>150 min•wk-1); in contrast, when each minute of MVPA was included, 71.0% met
the PA guidelines.
CONCLUSIONS: Despite more than half of the Chilean population having achieved moderate to high
levels of PA as measured with self-report, a large proportion do not practice any PA during leisure
time and a large part of the time spent in PA during a week is attributable to work. Like citizens of
developed countries, Chileans spend, overall, 60% of their daily time in SB, and accumulate MVPA
mostly in bouts of short duration. | |
