ASSOCIATION OF LEVEL OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, BODY MASS INDEX AND WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE IN THE POPULATION OF VALE DOS SINOS, BRAZIL.

Abstract

The purpose of this descriptive cross-sectional study was to correlate the level of physical activity (LPA) and body mass index (BMI) with health risks determined by waist circumference in people living in the area of Vale do Sinos, Brazil. This study enrolled 978 people 18 to 80 years old in Vale do Sinos, Brazil, using convenience sampling. The short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to assess LPA; for the calculation of BMI, weight was measured to the nearest 100 g using a beam scale (Wellmy), and height was measured to the nearest 0.1 cm using a stadiometer (Wellmy). Waist circumference was measured to the nearest 0.1 cm with an anthropometric tape (Sanny). The cut-off points for the association of waist circumference (WC) and health risk were class I, according to the International Diabetes Federation (men = 94.0 cm, and women = 80 cm), and class II, according to the WHO (men = 120.0 cm, and women = 88.0 cm). A chi-square test, linear regression and the SPSS 12.0 software were used for statistical analyses, and the level of significance was set at p<0.05. Significant associations were found for men with HPA and class I WC (p<0.05); no similar correlation was found between the other classes. The same analysis did not reveal any correlation in the group of women. The analysis of the BMI and LPA did not reveal any correlation for either gender. The same was found in the analysis of BMI and LAP with age. For men, only the level of physical activity that results in the greatest energy consumption, that is, high physical activity, had a significant association with the decrease of abdominal fat; the same was not found for women. LPA did not differ for different age groups and did not alone determine BMI, which may suggest that other factors, such as poor nutrition, may be responsible for abdominal obesity.