PHYSICAL INACTIVITY IN CHILDREN: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF STUDIES CONDUCTED IN BRAZIL

Abstract

Introduction: The urbanization process, technological advances, economic, political and social changesinfluence the physical activity levels in persons, and the physical inactivity can promote risks to health inall ages. Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of physical inactivity amongBrazilian children, by a systematic review. Materials and Methods: A systematic review of articles publishedin Bireme database was carried out. The search was conducted between August and September of 2013and used the combination of terms: “physical activity”; “motor activity”; “exercise”; “physical inactivity”;“sedentary”; “energy expenditure”; “physical fitness”; “risk factor”; “sports”; “factor”; “health behavior”;“lifestyle”; “health”; “physical education”; “child”; “school”; “childhood”; “youth”; “child health”; “Brazil”and “Brazilian”. Only the articles published from 2004 to 2013 were included. Results: The initial searchresulted in 58 articles. Three were classified as repeated, and in the end, eight manuscripts were selectedfor review, and two were obtained from the list of references. A variation in the prevalence of physicalinactivity was from 14.2% to 73.9%. The cross-sectional design was prevalent among the studies. Of all ofpublications, three were from the southeast region. The questionnaire was the main instrument to measurethe level of physical activity in children. Conclusions: The prevalence of physical inactivity in studies withBrazilian children was high. However, it’s necessary to carry out more studies in different regions.