The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the "Educação Fìsica +: Praticando Saúde na Escola" (EF+) intervention (in English: Physical Education +: Practicing Health at School), delivered through Physical Education classes at the primary and secondary schools levels in the public network of the city of Pelotas, Brazil. Forty schools were selected and randomly allocated to the control or intervention group. Physical Education teachers of schools allocated to the intervention group took part in the intervention for a full school year. The main intervention strategies included: workshop with the teachers; delivery of materials to the adopted during the classes; delivery of illustrative materials. Physical inactivity (<300 min/wk) and a score of knowledge about physical activity were assessed through questionnaire at baseline and after the intervention. In order to evaluate adherence to the project, teachers were interviewed three times during the school year (two telephone and one face-to-face interview). Overall, 4,418 students provided data at baseline and follow up. Of the 39 invited teachers, 19 adhered to the project. We found no changes in physical activity levels, but the knowledge score rose substantially and significantly (3.0 to 3.7; p<0.05). We concluded the project is doable and led to increases in the knowledge about physical activity and health in a short period of intervention. We believe health needs to continue being a topic of debate at school, complementing current health promotion efforts taking place outside the school settings.

Fitness zones (FZ) are a great alternative to physical activity practice. The aim of this study was verify physical activity practice and associated factors among FZ users of Pelotas. Participants answered a questionnaire containing demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, health and on the use of FZs. A long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to determine the level of physical activity and those who reported at least 150 minutes / week of PA in the leisure time were considered sufficiently active. The study included 323 subjects (65.3% women), mean age 52.5 years, 83.6% white skin color and 61.9% married. Almost half of respondents were overweight (48.0%), 45.8% had high blood pressure, 10.5% had diabetes and 64.4% used medications. About 77.7% of respondents were classified as sufficiently active. Health perception was associated to leisure physical activity, and the better the health perception, the higher the prevalence of sufficient physical activity. Collective programs with participation of Physical Education teacher can contribute to interaction of practitioners with the use of fitness zones and increase the level of physical activity of individuals.Resumo -As Academias ao Ar Livre (AAL) são uma ótima alternativa para realização de atividade física (AF) de forma gratuita. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a prática de AF e fatores associados em reqüentadores das AAL de Pelotas-RS. Os participantes responderam a um questionário contendo questões demográficas, socioeconômicas, comportamentais, de saúde e relativas à utilização das AAL. Foi utilizada a versão longa do International Physical Activity Questionnaire para determinar o nível atividade física dos indivíduos e foram considerados suficientemente ativos aqueles que relataram pelo menos 150 minutos/semana de AF no domínio de lazer. Participaram do estudo 323 indivíduos (65,3% mulheres), com média de idade de 52,5 anos, 83,6% de pele branca e 61,9% casados. Quase a metade dos entrevistados apresentava sobrepeso (48,0%), 45,8%, pressão alta,10,5% diabetes e 64,4% utilizam medicamentos. Foram classificados como suficientemente ativos 77,7% dos entrevistados. Tanto na análise bivariada quanto na multivariável a percepção de saúde se mostrou associada à AF de lazer, sendo que quanto melhor à percepção de saúde maior a prevalência de AF suficiente. Programas coletivos com participação do professor de Educação Física podem colaborar para interação dos praticantes com o uso das AAL e aumentar o nível de atividade física dos indivíduos.

A síndrome metabólica é uma doença crônica representada por um conjunto de fatores de riscos cardiovasculares. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o diagnóstico da síndrome metabólica sob diferentes critérios de definição. Foram avaliados parâmetros antropométricos, bioquímicos e hemodinâmicos de 125 indivíduos. A prevalência de síndrome metabólica variou conforme o critério utilizado para análise: 16,8% (World Health Organization), 57,6% (National Cholesterol Education Program) e 75,2% (International Diabetes Federation). A diferença na prevalência de síndrome metabólica apresentada para a mesma amostra nos leva a concluir que a obrigatoriedade da disfunção relacionada à glicose, apresentada pela Organização Mundial da Saúde, subestima muitos casos do diagnóstico por não considerar outros fatores de risco, como por exemplo a hipertensão, a dislipidemia e a obesidade central, que podem estar presentes no indivíduo.

The aim of the study was to investigate the sources of information about the importance of physical activity and its association with physical activity level among high school students from the urban area of Pelotas, Brazil. A school-based study was conducted in Pelotas, with a sample of 1233 students 13-19 years-old. A self-administered questionnaire containing sociodemographic, economic, behavioral and health variable was applied. The source of information on importance of practice was assessed in two stages, the first by the question, "Have you been informed that physical activity is good for health?" and, if so, by request mark (s) option (s) where the information was obtained. The practice of leisure time physical activity was assessed through a questionnaire. The crude and adjusted analysis were conducted by Poisson regression. Almost all students (99.8%) reported having been informed that physical activity is good for health. Among the most frequently reported sources of information for men and women, respectively, were television (93.4%-95% CI= 91.1 to 95.7; 95.9%-95%CI= 91.0 to 95.3), physical education teacher (85.6%-95%CI= 81.1 to 86.8; 84.1%-95%CI= 82.4 to 86.8) and physician (75.9%-95% CI= 72.2 to 79.4; 73.3% 95%-CI= 69.8 to 76.7), with no statistical difference between the sexes. After adjustment for confounders, friends were the only source of information associated with the practice of physical activity. Those who received information from friends showed 41.0% more likely to engage in physical activity during leisure time compared to those who did not.