Perfil dos frequentadores das academias ao ar livre de municípios da região central do RS

Abstract

Introduction: One of the strategies to facilitate the adoption of a more active lifestyle is with greater availability of public spaces for active leisure. Thus, several Brazilian cities have been installing outdoor gyms (OG) in their public parks. Objective: To identify the profile of users and the OG usage patterns. Methodology: Eighty-five OG regulars in the city of Santa Maria and 32 in the city of Cacequi, RS, took part in the study. Data collections were performed on two weekdays and on one weekend day at two times (morning and afternoon). A questionnaire composed of three blocks was used as a collection instrument, with block 1 including socio- demographic and health issues, block 2 containing questions about the physical activities during leisure time and block 3, questions regarding the use of OG. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, with the software SPSS 20.0. Results: The vast majority of OG users in both cities are female, married and aged between 50 and 69 years. The most prevalent level of education in Santa Maria is complete high school and in Cacequi, incomplete elementary school. The most prevalent disease in both cities is hypertension and most of the sample practices physical activity, whereas in Cacequi, only in the OG, while in Santa Maria, other physical activities were mentioned in addition to those practiced in the OG. The OG usage pattern was very similar in both cities, as the majority frequents 3 times a week, mainly in the morning shift, making a mild to moderate effort. The highest percentage goes to the OG on foot, remaining there for around 45 to 60 minutes. Conclusion: We conclude that the profile of OG users in two cities in southern Brazil are quite similar, although one has Family Health Support Center (FHSC) and the other does not, with a predominance of females, aged between 50 and 69 years, married, differing only in the level of education, which is lower in the city with FHSC. The most common disease was hypertension, in both cities and the OG usage pattern in both cities is 3 times a week, in the morning shift, for 45 to 60 minutes, with a mild to moderate effort.