Physical activity level and main perceived barriers in adults: a Rio Claro city study.

Abstract

According to the task force, after well controled studies, the regular practice of physical activity was associated to a better health and longevity; however more than 60% of the brazilian adult population is not engaged in regular physical activity. Several factors can be crucial to facilitate or not the physical activity practice. When these factors constrain or dificultate this practice we call them barriers. Then, the aim of this study is to analyse the physical activity level and the major barriers perceived by adult individuals living in Rio Claro/SP city. The data collection protocol will be compound by three questionnaires: a) Questionnaire of identification and homing; b) IPAQ long version; c) Questionnaire of barriers to physical activity; d) Questionnaire of social-economic classification; and e) Questionnaire of physical fitness. Individuals with 20 or more years of age will be selected in 100 censitary sectors in a randomized and stratificated way. A descriptive analyses will be done in order to characterize the sample and the contingency tables 2 x 2 will be applied for association purposes. The contingency tables use the odds ratio in order to verify the association among the variables. We hypothesize that the prevalence of physical innactivity increases and the perceived barriers to physical activity are different in each age group as the age increases.