Insufficient physical activity practice in Brazil based on the 2013 and 2019 National Health Survey: what is not revealed by the classification based on recommendations

Abstract

Insufficient physical activity is a risk factor for chronic diseases. In epidemiological surveillance, it is defined as less than 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity or the equivalent. However, this dichotomous indicator combines individuals with different volumes of physical activity. This study analyzed the distribution of weekly physical activity volume among Brazilian adults across three domains (leisure, commuting, and work), using as indicators the sum of these domains, which is the usual measure of insufficient practice, and leisure-time physical activity exclusively, according to sex and race/skin color. This cross-sectional study used data from the Brazilian National Health Survey (PNS), in which the prevalences of the categories 0, 1–75, 76–149, and ≥150 minutes per week were estimated. The analyses accounted for the complex sampling design, and the Rao–Scott test was used to assess associations with sex and race/skin color. It was identified that in 2013 insufficient practice was 45.7% and, exclusively during leisure time, 77.3%. In 2019, these proportions were respectively 40.3% and 69.9%, with the majority concentrated in the 0-minute category in both years. Differences were observed by domain, sex, and race/skin color, with higher insufficient practice among women and Black individuals, especially during leisure time. It is concluded that revealing the distribution of physical activity volume in additional categories contributes to the monitoring of public policies and to unveiling inequalities that are not readily apparent in dichotomous classifications.