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Background: To identify the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of different domains of physical activity (PA) and higher sitting time among South American adolescents., Methods: Data from national surveys of 11 South American countries were analyzed, and comprised information on 166,901 adolescents. PA (≥ 60 min/day of moderate-vigorous PA), physical education classes (PEC) (≥ 3 classes/wk), active commuting to school (≥ 1 d/wk), and higher sitting time (≥ 3 h/d) were self-reported. Sociodemographic correlates, such as gender, age, and food security status were explored using a random effect meta-analysis for logistic parameters., Results: Recommended PA ranged between 7.5% (Brazil) and 19.0% (Suriname). Peru (2.2%) and Guyana (43.1%) presented the lowest prevalence of PEC and active commuting to school, respectively. Higher sitting time was less prevalent in Bolivia (24.6%) and more prevalent in Argentina (55.6%). Compared to girls, boys were more prone to reach recommendations for PA [OR = 1.94(1.65;2.28)]; to reach ≥ 3 PEC [OR = 1.17(1.04;1.33)] and to be active in commuting to school [(OR = 1.14(1.06;1.23)], but less prone to higher sitting time [OR = 0.89(0.82;0.96)]. Older adolescents had less odds of reach PA guidelines [OR = 0.86(0.77; 0.97)] and accumulated higher sitting time [OR = 1.27(1.14;1.41)]. Adolescents with food insecurity reported more PEC [OR = 1.12(1.04;1.21)] and active commuting to school [OR = 1.12(1.02;1.22)] but had less higher sitting time than their food security pairs [OR = 0.89(0.81;0.98)]., Conclusions: Few adolescents reach the PA recommendation. Actions aiming the promotion of PA and the reduction of sitting time must consider girls and older adolescents as target groups, as well as the specifics of each country., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Our aim was to analyze the association of the presence of public physical activity (PA) facilities and participation in public PA programs with leisure-time PA, with an emphasis on the moderating role of educational level and income., Methods: We used data of 88,531 adults (46,869 women), with a mean age of 47.2 ± 17.1y, from the 2019 Brazilian National Health Survey. Leisure-time PA (dichotomized considering 150 min/week), the presence of a public PA facility near the household (yes or no), participation in public PA programs (yes or no), educational level (divided into quintiles) and per capita income (divided into quintiles) were all self-reported through interviews. Adjusted logistic regression models were used for the analyses., Results: The presence of public PA facilities near the household and the participation in public PA programs were associated with higher leisure-time PA among all quintiles of income and educational level. However, multiplicative interactions revealed that participating in PA programs [Quintile (Q)1: OR: 13.99; 95%CI: 6.89-28.38 vs. Q5: OR: 3.48; 95%CI: 2.41-5.01] and the presence of public PA facilities near the household (Q1: OR: 3.07; 95%CI: 2.35-4.01 vs. Q5: OR: 1.38; 95%CI: 1.22-1.55) were more associated with higher odds of being active in the leisure-time among the lowest quintile of educational level., Conclusions: The presence of public PA facilities and participation in public PA programs are environmental correlates that may be relevant for designing effective public health interventions to reduce social inequalities in leisure-time PA among adults in low-income areas., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Our aim was to investigate the association of macroeconomic, human development, and demographic factors with different domains of physical activity and sitting time among South American adults., Methods: We used data from nationally representative samples in Argentina (n = 26,932), Brazil (n = 52,490), Chile (n = 3866), Colombia (n = 14,208), Ecuador (n = 19,883), Peru (n = 8820), and Uruguay (n = 2403). Our outcomes included leisure time (≥150 min/week), transport (≥10 min/week), occupational (≥10 min/week), and total (≥150 min/week) physical activity, as well as sitting time (≥4 h/day), which were collected through self-reported questionnaires. As exposures, gross domestic product, total population, population density, and human development index indicators from the most updated national census of each country were used. Age and education were used as covariates. Multilevel logistic regressions with harmonized random effect meta-analyses were conducted, comparing highest vs. lowest (reference) tertiles., Results: Higher odds for transport physical activity were observed among the highest tertiles of total population (OR men : 1.41; 95% CI: 1.23-1.62), OR women : 1.51; 95% CI:1.32-1.73), population density (OR men : 1.36; 95% CI: 1.18-1.57, OR women : 1.49; 95% CI: 1.30-1.70), and gross domestic product (OR men : 1.16; 95% CI: 1.00-1.35, OR women : 1.39; 95% CI: 1.20-1.61). For leisure physical activity, women living in departments with higher human development index presented 18% higher odds for being active, and for total physical activity a similar estimate in both sexes was observed among those who live in more populated areas. No consistent associations were found for occupational physical activity and sitting time., Conclusion: Macroeconomic, demographic and human development indicators are associated with different domains of physical activity in the South American context, which can in turn guide policies to promote physical activity in the region.

Background: Physical inactivity and sedentary behavior are major concerns for public health. Although global initiatives have been successful in monitoring physical activity (PA) worldwide, there is no systematic action for the monitoring of correlates of these behaviors, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Here we describe the prevalence and distribution of PA domains and sitting time in population sub-groups of six south American countries., Methods: Data from the South American Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Network (SAPASEN) were used, which includes representative data from Argentina (n = 26,932), Brazil (n = 52,490), Chile (n = 3719), Ecuador (n = 19,851), Peru (n = 8820), and Suriname (n = 5170). Self-reported leisure time (≥150 min/week), (≥150 min/week), transport (≥10 min/week), and occupational PA total (≥10 min/week), as well as sitting time (≥4 h/day) were captured in each national survey. Sex, age, income, and educational status were exposures. Descriptive statistics and harmonized random effect meta-analyses were conducted., Results: The prevalence of PA during leisure (Argentina: 29.2% to Peru: 8.6%), transport (Peru: 69.7% to Ecuador: 8.8%), and occupation (Chile: 60.4 to Brazil 18.3%), and ≥4 h/day of sitting time (Peru: 78.8% to Brazil: 14.8%) differed widely between countries. Moreover, total PA ranged between 60.4% (Brazil) and 82.9% (Chile) among men, and between 49.4% (Ecuador) and 74.9% (Chile) among women. Women (low leisure and occupational PA) and those with a higher educational level (low transportation and occupational PA as well as high sitting time) were less active. Concerning total PA, men, young and middle-aged adults of high educational status (college or more) were, respectively, 47% [OR = 0.53 (95% CI = 0.36-0.78), I 2  = 76.6%], 25% [OR = 0.75 (95% CI = 0.61-0.93), I 2  = 30.4%] and 32% [OR = 0.68 (95% CI = 0.47-1.00), I 2  = 80.3%] less likely to be active., Conclusions: PA and sitting time present great ranges and tend to vary across sex and educational status in South American countries. Country-specific exploration of trends and population-specific interventions may be warranted.