Insufficient physical activity in Brazil: Sex inequities throughout the 21st century
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12820/rbafs.31e0439Keywords:
Physical activity, Social inequality, Health inequalitiesAbstract
Introduction: Insufficient physical activity is considered a risk factor for the development of noncommunicable chronic diseases. However, this behavior is unequally distributed among population groups, and regional and social disparities have been revealed in Brazil. Objective: To analyze inequalities in physical activity practice between sexes throughout the early 21st century in Brazil. Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational epidemiological study using secondary open-access data from the Health Inequality Data Repository, available in the World Health Organization’s Health Inequality Monitor toolkit. Data from Brazil, ranging from 2001 to 2022, were analyzed. Results: The data indicate that inequalities in physical activity persist, especially among women, with 30.9% of the general population engaging in insufficient physical activity in 2001 (Male - 29.3%; Female - 32.5%) and 40.9% in 2022 (Male - 35.7%; Female - 45.8%) (95% CI: 32.4% to 59.9%). Conclusion: Reducing inequalities in the access to and practice of physical activity requires investment in surveillance and monitoring of disparities, as well as strengthening of intersectoral actions. It is essential that public policies consider the social determinants of health and promote more equitable and active environments.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Danilo Bastos Moreno, Diego de Mélo Lima, Juan Carlos Freire, Jéssica Gomes Gonçalves, Jorge Bezerra, Daniel Rogério Petreça, Andrea Ramirez Varela, Marcos André Moura dos Santos
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