Physical activity research: analysis of the agenda funded by the Brazilian Ministry of Health (2002-2023)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12820/rbafs.31e0452Keywords:
Health research policy, Health research agenda, Health policy, Unified Health System, Health promotionAbstract
Introduction: The National Agenda of Priorities in Health Research (Agenda Nacional de Prioridades de Pesquisa em Saúde - ANPPS) aims to align research funding from the Brazilian Ministry of Health (MoH) with the population’s health priorities. Therefore, the ANPPS could help to align research on physical activity with health policies. Objective: To analyze physical activity research funded by the MoH with respect to: a) temporal trends of the number of studies, total funding, and funding per research project; b) distribution across thematic axes and ANPPS sub-agendas. Methods: A national time-series study was conducted through a search in the ‘Health Research’ system, covering the period from 2002 to 2023. Segmented linear regression analysis was used to estimate the annual variation, with a 95% confidence interval. Results: In total, 234 studies were funded, with a deflated total investment of approximately BRL 60.0 million, representing an average investment of BRL 256.5 thousand per research project. Fluctuations were observed in both the number of studies and the funding, with a downward trend in the number of studies, total funding, and funding per research project. The health consequences axis accounted for the largest number of studies (69.2%) and funding (69.9%). Among the sub-agendas, non-communicable chronic diseases stood out in terms of the number of studies (26.1%), while epidemiology received the highest amount of funding (27%). Conclusions: In the period covered, physical activity was included in the ANPPS funded by the MoH. However, increased funding for physical activity research is needed, particularly within the policy axis.
Downloads
References
1. Garcia L, Pearce M, Abbas A, Mok A, Strain T, Ali S, et al. Non-occupational physical activity and risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and mortality outcomes: a dose–response meta-analysis of large prospective studies. Br J Sports Med. 2023;57:979–89. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2022-105669
2. Salvo D, Garcia L, Reis RS, Stankov I, Goel R, Schipperijn J, et al. Physical Activity Promotion and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Building Synergies to Maximize Impact. J Phys Act Health. 2021;18:1163–80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2021-0413
3. Strain T, Flaxman S, Guthold R, Semenova E, Cowan M, Riley LM, et al. National, regional, and global trends in insufficient physical activity among adults from 2000 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 507 population-based surveys with 5·7 million participants. Lancet Glob Health. 2024;12:e1232–43.
4. Santos AC, Willumsen J, Meheus F, Ilbawi A, Bull FC. The cost of inaction on physical inactivity to public healthcare systems: a population-attributable fraction analysis. Lancet Glob Health. 2023;11:e32–9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(22)00464-8
5. Prodel E, Mrejen M, Mira PAC, Britto J, Vargas MA, Nobrega ACL. The burden of physical inactivity for the public health care system in Brazil. Rev Saude Publica. 2023;57:37. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11606/s1518-8787.2023057004589
6. Varela AR, Cruz GIN, Hallal P, Blumenberg C, Silva SG, Salvo D, et al. Global, regional, and national trends and patterns in physical activity research since 1950: a systematic review. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2021;18(1):5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-021-01100-3
7. Pratt M, Varela AR, Bauman A. The Physical Activity Policy to Practice Disconnect. J Phys Act Health. 2023;20:461–4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2023-0071
8. Ding D, Chastin S, Salvo D, Nau T, Gebel K, Sanchez-Lastra MA, et al. Realigning the physical activity research agenda for population health, equity, and wellbeing. The Lancet. 2024;404:411–4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01540-X
9. Ding D, Ramirez Varela A, Bauman AE, Ekelund U, Lee IM, Heath G, et al. Towards better evidence-informed global action: lessons learnt from the Lancet series and recent developments in physical activity and public health. Br J Sports Med. 2020;54:462–8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2019-101001
10. Minatto G, Silva KS, Bandeira AS, dos Santos PC, Sandreschi PF, Manta SW, et al. National policies on physical activity from 64 countries with different economies: a scoping review with thematic analysis. Health Policy Plan. 2023;38:737–65. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czad024
11. Machado PG, Florindo AA, Knuth AG, Ramirez Varela A, Malta DC, Kohn ER, et al. Progress in Physical Activity Surveillance, Research, Policy, and Gender Equity in Brazil: Results From the Global Observatory for Physical Activity. J Phys Act Health. 2025;22(7):819-26. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0375
12. Vieira LA, Carvalho FFB. As práticas corporais e atividades físicas nos 15 anos da política nacional de promoção da saúde: a defesa da equidade em um contexto de austeridade. Pensar Prat. 2021;24:e68737. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5216/rpp.v24.68737
13. Carvalho FFB, Guerra PH, Silva DB, Vieira LA. Oferta e participação nas práticas corporais e atividades físicas na Atenção Primária no Brasil: análise de 2014 a 2022. Cien Saude Colet. 2025;30:e09492023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232025301.09492023
14. Dutra RP, Knuth AG. Práticas corporais e atividades físicas desenvolvidas na Atenção Primária à Saúde no Brasil entre 2013 e 2021. Physis. 2025;35:e350119. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/s0103-73312025350119en
15. Carvalho FFB, Vieira LA. Práticas corporais e atividades físicas como política pública de Saúde: desafios para avançar na atenção primária do Sistema Único de Saúde no período de 2023 a 2026. Pensar Prat. 2023;26:e75847. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5216/rpp.v26.75847
16. Brasil. Secretaria de Atenção Primária à Saúde do Ministério da Saúde do Brasil. Coordenação-Geral de Promoção da Atividade Física e Ações Intersetoriais: gestão da atividade física no Ministério da Saúde do Brasil. Rev Bras Ativ Fís Saúde. 2022;27:1–4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12820/rbafs.27e0248
17. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Agenda Nacional de Prioridades de Pesquisa em Saúde. 2.ed. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2015. Disponível em: <https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/agenda_nacional_prioridades_2ed_4imp.pdf> [2025 setembro].
18. Akerman M, Fischer A. Agenda Nacional de Prioridades na Pesquisa em Saúde no Brasil (ANPPS): foco na subagenda 18 – Promoção da Saúde. Saúde Soc. 2014;23:180–90. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-12902014000100014
19. Guimarães R, Teixeira MO. Ciência e Tecnologia e Inovação em Saúde no Brasil: reflexões e prioridades. Physis. 2025;35:e350121.
20. Banco Central do Brasil (BACEN). Calculadora do Cidadão [Internet]. Brasília: Banco Central do Brasil. Disponível em: https://www.bcb.gov.br/meubc/calculadoradocidadao [2025 setembro].
21. Kim H, Fay MP, Yu B, Barret MJ; Feuer EJ. Comparability of Segmented Line Regression Models. Biometrics. 2004;60:1005–14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0006-341X.2004.00256.x
22. Antunes JLF, Cardoso MRA. Uso da análise de séries temporais em estudos epidemiológicos. Epidemiol Serv Saúde. 2015;24:565–76. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5123/S1679-49742015000300024
23. Vargas AJ, Sprow K, Lerman JL, Villani J, Regan KS, Ballard RM. Diet and Physical Activity Prevention Research Supported by the U.S. NIH From 2012-2017. Am J Prev Med. 2019;57(6):818-25. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2019.07.023
24. Fernhall B, Borghi-Silva A, Babu AS. The Future of Physical Activity Research: Funding, Opportunities and Challenges. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2015;57:299–305. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2014.09.003
25. Couto PC, Ell E, Figueiró AC, Oliveira Silva D. Avaliação do fomento de pesquisas em alimentação e nutrição apoiadas pelo Ministério da Saúde, de 2002 a 2017. Cad ESP. 2019;13:47-57. Disponível em: <https://cadernos.esp.ce.gov.br/index.php/cadernos/article/view/168> [2025 setembro].
26. Melo GBT, Angulo-Tuesta A, Silva EN, Obara MT. Financiamento de pesquisas sobre dengue no Brasil, 2004-2020. Saúde Debate. 2023;47:601–15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-1104202313817i
27. Vieira LA, Carvalho FFB. Planejamento no SUS: a agenda das Práticas Corporais e Atividades Físicas de 2004 a 2023. Saúde Debate. 2024;48:e8865. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/2358-289820241418865p
28. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Plano de Ações Estratégicas para o Enfrentamento das Doenças Crônicas e Agravos não Transmissíveis no Brasil 2021-2030. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2021. Disponível em: <https://www.gov.br/saude/pt-br/centrais-de-conteudo/publicacoes/svsa/doencas-cronicas-nao-transmissiveis-dcnt/09-plano-de-dant-2022_2030.pdf> [2025 setembro].
29. Negri F. Financiando a ciência e a infraestrutura de pesquisa em tempos de crise. Rev USP. 2022;135:101–18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2316-9036.i135p101-118
30. Hallal PC. SOS Brazil: Science under attack. The Lancet. 2021;397:373–4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00141-0
31. Carvalho FFB, Tavares GH, Pereira Filho ES. Criação da Política Nacional de Práticas Corporais e Atividades Físicas no SUS: um debate a partir do Colégio Brasileiro de Ciências do Esporte (CBCE). Rev Bras Ciênc Esporte. 2025;47:e20250052. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/rbce.47.e20250052
32. Política nacional de atividade física e práticas corporais no SUS: a hora é agora! [Internet]. SciELO Preprints. 2025. Disponível em: https://preprints.scielo.org/index.php/scielo/preprint/view/11606 [2025 setembro].
33. Tenório MCM, Coelho-Ravagnani C, Umpierre D, Douglas Roque Andrade DR, Autran R, Barros MVG, et al. Physical Activity Guidelines for the Brazilian Population: Development and Methods. J Phys Act Health. 2022;19(5):367-73. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2021-0756
34. Iriart JAB, Deslandes SF, Martin D, Camargo Junior KR, Carvalho MS, Coeli CM, et al. A avaliação da produção científica nas subáreas da Saúde Coletiva: limites do atual modelo e contribuições para o debate. Cad Saude Publica. 2015;31:2137–47. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X00065515
35. Nogueira JAD, Bosi MLM. Saúde Coletiva e Educação Física: distanciamentos e interfaces. Cien Saude Colet. 2017;22:1913–22 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232017226.23882015
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Leonardo Araújo Vieira, Fabio Fortunato Brasil de Carvalho, Debora Bernardo, Lucas Lima Galvão, Douglas Roque Andrade, Danilo Sales Bocalini
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
When submitting a manuscript to the Revista Brasileira de Atividade Física & Saúde, the authors retain the copyright to the article and authorize the Revista Brasileira de Atividade Física & Saúde to publish the manuscript under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License and identify it as the original publication source.
