Resumo em Inglês:

This piece describes and analyzes the situation with respect to physical activity in Chile and the policies and strategies that have been developed in order to combat sedentary lifestyles. The level of sedentary lifestyles in the Chilean population is very high, with 91% performing less than 30 minutes of physical activity three times per week. This predicament has worsened as a result of increased urbanization and economic growth over the past decade, with a resulting increase in the number of cars and televisions, along with a rise in the number of hours that workers are on the job each day. In order to deal with this situation a policy to develop physical activity was implemented as a part of the country's general health promotion policy. This policy is overseen by the CHILE LIFE Council (Consejo VIDA CHILE), which is made up of 28 Chilean institutions. The policy encompasses various strategies, such as preparing guides to active living for the Chilean population, conducting educational activities and human resources training for kindergartens and other schools, establishing regulatory measures, performing research, carrying out media campaigns, reclaiming public spaces for recreation, and creating incentives for physical activity in the workplace. These strategies have been well received by the general population, academicians, professionals, and technicians. This makes it possible to foresee achieving in the medium and long term the objectives that have been set: more active lives and a better state of health for the Chilean population.

Resumo em Inglês:

A recent report that bears the title Physical Activity Among Adults: United States, 2000 describes one of the few studies in the world that quantify total daily energy expenditure among adults in a given population. Most studies that attempt to assess the level of physical activity performed by a country's inhabitants look at leisure-time physical activity or energy expenditures while on the job. By looking at just one of those two areas, such studies provide only a partial view of the overall physical activity levels within a population. The report on the adult population of the United States of America, which is based on the National Center for Health Statistic's National Health Interview Survey for the year 2000, draws on data obtained through approximately 39 000 household interviews, covering a total of more than 100 000 individuals from all 50 states. In essence, indicators were developed, based on frequency and duration, for regular leisure-time physical activity (exercise, sports, or active hobbies) as well as for the amount of "usual daily activity" (i.e., commuting, performing household chores, running errands, and engaging in other activities not performed during leisure time). Regular leisure-time physical activity was thus defined as light or moderate activity for a minimum of 30 minutes per session at least five times a week, or intense activity for a minimum of 20 minutes per session at least three times a week. Light or moderate activity was defined as activity lasting at least 10 minutes that caused light sweating and a slight to moderate increase in breathing or heart rate. Vigorous activity was defined as activity lasting at least 10 minutes that caused heavy sweating or large increases in breathing or heart rate. In the case of "usual daily activity," its magnitude was determined by the number of times a day an individual had to walk or to lift or carry light, moderate, or heavy loads. These two indicators-regular leisure-time physical activity and usual daily activity-were combined to obtain an indicator for "overall physical activity level." According to results, 19% of U.S. adults engage in a high level of physical activity, with men being more likely than women to engage in such activity. In both sexes, however, the level of physical activity declines with age, so that adults in the oldest age group (65 or older) were about five times as likely as adults in the youngest age group (1824 years) to never be physically active. Women were also more likely than men to never engage in physical activity. One in every 4 adults in the United States engages in little physical activity or none. Those who are more active in their usual daily activities are also more likely to engage in regular physical activity during leisure time. Almost three fourths of adults lift or carry light to heavy loads during their usual activities. The report also examines the association between various socioeconomic and demographic variables and physical activity. Adults with incomes below the poverty level are three times more likely to be physically inactive than adults in the highest income group (4 times the poverty level or more). Around 15% of Hispanics, 14% of blacks, and 20% of whites engage in a high level of physical activity. In terms of education, individuals having an advanced degree are almost twice as likely as individuals without a high school diploma to have a high level of physical activity. In short, the report described herein provides an accurate assessment of overall physical activity among U.S. adults and identifies high-risk population subgroups that should be the target of health promotion activities geared toward increasing physical activity levels. The data it includes will be the basis for monitoring progress toward achieving the 2010 national health objectives for physical activity among adults in the United States.