Objective: To analyze the association between leisure-time physical inactivity and sociodemographic factors and risk or protection factors for chronic noncommunicable diseases among adults.
Methods: Cross-sectional study comprising adults aged 18 years and older (n = 1,996). Data was obtained from the Surveillance System for Risk Factors for Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases (CNCDs), a random-digit-dialed telephone survey carried out in the city of Florianópolis, southern Brazil, in 2005. There were studied sociodemographic, and behavioral protective and risk factors. Results of the multivariate analysis of the association between leisure-time physical inactivity and independent variables were expressed as prevalence ratios.
Results: The prevalence of leisure-time physical inactivity was 54.6% (47.3% among men, 61.4% among women). After adjustment, among men, higher physical inactivity was positively associated with older age, lower schooling, and inversely associated with working status; and lower physical inactivity was associated with alcohol abuse, regardless of age, schooling, and work status. Among women, higher leisure-time physical inactivity was positively associated with schooling (less than 12 years of education) and working status. The analyses adjusted for schooling and work status showed higher physical inactivity among those women reporting consuming fruits and vegetables less than five times a day and whole milk.
Conclusions: Factors associated with leisure-time physical inactivity were different among men and women. Among women, physical inactivity was associated to risk factors for chronic diseases, especially eating habits. Among men, physical inactivity was associated to sociodemographic factors.