Abstract

MARTINS CUNHA, Raphael; ODETE DA SILVA SOUZA, Clara; FERREIRA DA SILVA, Juliana  and  APARECIDA DA SILVA, Maria. Physical activity level and anthropometric data regarding hypertensive and/or diabetic people in a Brazilian city. Rev. salud pública [online]. 2012, vol.14, n.3, pp.429-437. ISSN 0124-0064.

ObjectiveThis study was aimed at assessing the level of physical activity (PA) and the anthropometric profile of hypertensive and/or diabetic people involved in the Hiperdia programme in the city of Inhumas/Goias, Brazil. MethodsThis exploratory descriptive study was conducted with 80 individuals from four areas in the aforementioned city. After participants had been invited to participate and their inclusion in the study, a brief medical history was complied and they answered the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-short) and their anthropometric measurements were taken regarding weight and height; body mass index (BMI), waist, hip circumference and waist-hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. The Kolgomorov Smirnov test was used for data analysis; the mean, standard deviation, absolute frequency and percentages were used. ResultsBMI analysis classified 65 % of the subjects as being overweight or obese; only one individual was classified as being at low risk and all others were moderate to very high risk regarding WHR. Regarding PA, 11.25 % were classified as being sedentary and 63.75 % as active or very active. ConclusionMore attention is required regarding anthropometric indices since such data can provide warnings regarding individuals' possible health hazards. Although PA level overall was good, strategies for promoting PA and healthy nutrition must be be implemented since they would contribute directly to improving the anthropometric indices found in this study.

Keywords : Hypertension; Diabetes mellitus; motor activity; anthropometry.

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