The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the perceived environment and the use of public open spaces (POS).

Neighborhood safety is one of the environmental aspects that can influence physical activity. We analyzed the association between perceived neighborhood safety and physical inactivity (PI) in adults and examined effect modification according to sociodemographic variables.

Community-based physical activity (PA) programs in Latin America have been recognized because of the use of available environmental resources to offer PA classes. Yet, the evaluation of programs focused on PA classes involving dancing in public spaces is limited. The aim of this study was to assess the physical activity levels, park use, and the contextual characteristics of public parks with and without the Recreovía in Bogotá in Colombia. Al Ritmo de las Comunidades is a natural experiment conducted in nine parks (3 parks implementing new Recreovías, 3 control parks and 3 parks with existing Recreovías) during 2013. We used the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities to evaluate park use (gender, age, and physical activity level) and target areas. A total of 4925 people were observed during 702 observation visits to parks. The percentage of women was higher in parks with Recreovía, compared to parks without Recreovía (53% vs. 40% vs. 33%; p < 0.001). Women using parks with Recreovía compared to women in parks without Recreovía were less likely to be sedentary (25% vs. 39%; p < 0.0001) and more likely to engage in moderate-to-vigorous activity (75% vs. 61%; p < 0.0001). Among men, the activity pattern was the opposite. The Recreovía is a promising strategy to promote park use and PA, especially among women who are less likely to meet PA recommendations during their leisure time. The provision of a cost-free community program may be an effective approach and a good investment for health.

Purpose: To explore individual and environmental correlates to quality of life (QoL) in park users in Colombia. Methods: A cross-sectional study with face-to-face interviews was conducted with 1392 park users from ten parks in Colombia. The survey included sociodemographic questions, health condition assessed with EuroQuol-5-Dimensions-5-Levels; in addition, questions about accessibility to the parks and perceptions about quality of infrastructure and green areas were asked. The Spanish version of the questionnaire EUROHIS-QOL-8 items was applied to assess QoL. Log-binomial regression models were applied for analyses. Results: Years of schooling, visits to the park with a companion, active use of the park, a maximum score for quality of trees and walking paths, and the perception of safety on the way to the park were positively associated with a better QoL (p < 0.05). Health conditions related to problems in the ability to perform activities of daily living and anxiety/depression showed negative associations. Conclusions: The present study contributes to the Latin American studies by providing information on how parks in an intermediate city may contribute to increased QoL of park users through safety in neighborhoods, social support, active use, and aesthetics, cleanliness, and care of green areas.

OBJETIVO: Estimar a prevalência de atividade física e identificar fatores associados em adolescentes. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal realizado com amostra representativa (n = 1.518, 59,2% do sexo feminino) de escolares de 14-18 anos de idade da rede pública de ensino de Curitiba, PR, em 2006. A prática de atividade física foi auto-referida, em número de dias por semana em que realiza atividade de intensidade moderada a vigorosa com duração > 60 minutos. A prática foi analisada em dois modelos distintos. No primeiro, a variável foi dicotomizada em "0 dia" e "> 1 dia"; no segundo, em "< 4 dias" e "> 5 dias". As variáveis independentes foram: demográfico-biológicas (sexo, idade, índice de massa corporal); socioeconômicas (escolaridade dos pais, número de carros); comportamentais (horas assistindo TV, horas em frente ao computador); e socioculturais (apoio social da família e dos amigos, e a percepção de barreiras para a prática de atividades) testadas em regressão de Poisson. RESULTADOS: No primeiro modelo de análise, a prevalência de atividade física foi de 58,2% (75,1% do sexo masculino e 46,5% do feminino; p < 0,001) e no segundo, de 14,5% (22,3% e 9,1%, respectivamente; p < 0,001). No primeiro modelo, as variáveis associadas à atividade física foram sexo masculino (RP = 1,63, IC95%: 1,48;1,78), apoio social da família (RP = 1,14, IC95%: 1,05;1,23), dos amigos (RP = 1,52, IC95%: 1,31;1,78) e elevada percepção de barreiras (RP = 0,54, IC95%: 0,46;0,62). No segundo modelo, apenas o sexo masculino (RP = 2,45, IC95%: 1,73;3,46) e a baixa percepção de barreiras (RP = 0,24, IC95%: 0,15;0,38) associaram-se à atividade física. CONCLUSÕES: Mais da metade dos adolescentes praticam atividade física em pelo menos um dia da semana, embora 14,5% atinjam as recomendações atuais. Níveis recomendados estão associados a menor número de fatores. Gênero e percepção de barreiras apresentam relação consistente com os níveis de atividade física.