The aim of this study was to synthesize and analyze scientific evidence of the perceived barriers to leisure-time physical activity (PA) in the Brazilian population. The Lilacs, SciELO, PubMed, ScienceDirect and Web of Science journal databases were reviewed and the number of reports of each barrier to PA, grouped according to the level of determinants of the social ecological model (intrapersonal, interpersonal and environmental) was analyzed. We found 25 studies (11 in adolescents, 8 in adults and 6 in older adults), totaling 62,678 reports of barriers to PA. The studies were conducted in the South (n=15), Southeast (n=7), and Northeast (n=2) regions, and one study also included different regions of Brazil. Overall, about seven out of every 10 reports on barriers to PA involved intrapersonal barriers. Adults and older adults had a higher proportion of reports of intrapersonal barriers (84.8% and 74%, respectively), than adolescents (47.8%). There are still few studies with older adults, children, and in populations of the Midwest and North of the country. The most frequently reported barriers to PA among adolescents were lack of company, lack of social support from family and friends, unsuitable climate and limited access to spaces for PA. Lack of motivation and lack of time were the most frequently reported barriers in adults, whereas in older adults the predominant barriers were lack of motivation and diagnosed disease or physical limitation. PA promotion programs need to take into account the different barriers to PA, since these are specific to age groups. Level of Evidence II; Systematic Review of Level II Studies.

Background: Physical education (PE) classes in schools are considered relevant to implement interventions, especially focused on physical activity. However, evidence overviews on how PE classes contribute to general health (physical, social, affective, and cognitive domains) are still needed. Thus, we summarized evidence synthesis (eg, systematic reviews) that addressed the contribution of PE classes to the health of school-aged children and adolescents. Methods: We performed a scoping review with searches in 8 databases and institutional websites to find systematic reviews or meta-analyses that answered this review’s research question. Data charting form included the identification of the study, health outcomes, and PE classes’ strategies (policies and environment, curriculum, appropriate instructions, and evaluation). An interactive process was performed to build the evidence summary. Results: An initial search yielded 2264 titles, and 49 systematic reviews (including 11 with meta-analysis) were included in this review. Most documents reported the main benefits of PE classes on physical domain outcomes (eg, physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, body mass index, and fundamental motor skills). However, evidence on the benefits of PE classes in affective (eg, enjoyment, motivation, and autonomy); social (eg, cooperation, problem-solving, and making friends); and cognitive (eg, memory, attention, concentration, and decision making) domains were found. Strategies on PE classes for health benefits were highlighted. Conclusions: These elements were detailed in the evidence summary, which may be considered to guide researchers, teachers, and practitioners to define research and practice priorities on PE class interventions for health in the school context.

Background: Understanding which strategies have been recommended for the promotion of active and healthy lifestyles through physical education (PE) classes can guide PE policies and practice. Therefore, we summarized worldwide recommendations regarding strategies for PE classes that have aimed to promote active and healthy lifestyles among school-aged children and adolescents. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines were utilized. A literature search was carried out in June 2020 in eight peer-reviewed literature databases, in addition to searches in institutional and personal libraries. The eligibility criteria included any online document that included recommendations targeting any dimension of PE classes (e.g., policy and environment, curriculum, appropriate instruction, student assessment, and strategies that interact with PE) published since 2000. Results: In total, 2,408 potentially eligible documents were screened. Of these, 63 were included in the final analysis. The recommended strategies were as follows: six referred to policy and environment (valuing PE, higher frequency and duration of classes, inclusive PE classes, mandatory daily classes, evaluation of PE classes, and qualified teachers), five to curriculum (structure, type of content, cross-cutting themes, and components that improve PE classes), four to appropriate instruction (promotion of physical activities, inclusion of social issues, employment of the use of innovative technologies, and organization of the teaching–learning process), and three to student assessment (understanding human movement concepts, evaluation of contents, and assessment methods to develop an active and healthy lifestyle). Conclusion: Twenty-one strategies recommended for PE classes linked to five dimensions aimed at different target populations were identified. Over half were linked to the dimensions of policy and environment and appropriate instruction. PE is recommended to be mandatory and valued at all educational levels, with weekly frequency that contributes to an active and healthy lifestyle. This review shows that guaranteeing different experiences beyond sports, improving social inclusion, using innovative technologies, and providing adequate materials and spaces to be important challenges and ways to guide policies, programs, and new research in this field of knowledge. Open Science Framework Registration: https://osf.io/harwq/

Objective: To synthesize the evidence available in the literature on the relationship between the components of physical activity, physical fitness and academic achievement in adolescents. Methods: The review followed the methodological procedures described by PRISMA and was carried out in the Lilacs, Medline, SciELO, PubMed, Web of Science and Science Direct databases. Quantitative empirical studies published as of 2006 were included. The following descriptors and keywords were used: “Motor activity”, “Physical fitness”, “Physical activity”, “Educational status”, “Academic achievement”, “Academic performance”, and their equivalents in Portuguese and Spanish. Results: The most widely investigated variable was physical fitness (45.5%) followed by physical activity (40.9%), whereas only three studies (13.6%) investigated both. Conclusion: Physical activity and physical fitness are positively associated with the academic achievement of adolescents. In more than 80% of studies the association was considered strong. The physical fitness component most frequently associated with academic achievement was cardiorespiratory fitness. Level of evidence II; Systematic review.

As aulas de educação física (EF) escolar representam um momento propício para conhecer e vivenciar a pluralidade do movimento humano, favorecendo a promoção de uma vida ativa e saudável. A importância da EF escolar foi reconhecida pelo Guia de Atividade Física para a População Brasileira (Guia), que dedicou um capítulo para orientar a comunidade escolar sobre os benefícios à saúde e as estratégias de sucesso adotadas nas aulas de EF escolar. O objetivo deste estudo é apresentar o processo de elaboração das recomendações brasileiras de EF escolar para a população brasileira, mais especificamente os estudantes, professores, pais e responsáveis, e gestores. Esse capítulo do Guia foi desenvolvido por dez pesquisadores brasileiros, incluindo um representante do Ministério da Saúde. Três sínteses de evidências, escutas ao público-alvo e consulta pública foram realizadas para a construção das recomendações. Dados de 49 revisões sistemáticas sobre os benefícios da EF escolar à saúde e de 22 intervenções nas aulas de EF escolar com estudantes brasileiros foram sumarizados. Ainda, foram sintetizados 63 documentos nacionais e internacionais com estratégias recomendadas para a EF escolar, com foco nas dimensões: política e ambiente; currículo; instrução apropriada; avaliação; e estratégias que interagem com a EF escolar. Os grupos focais e a consulta pública fundamentaram a elaboração e o aprimoramento da versão final das recomendações. Espera-se que estas recomendações alicercem a criação de políticas públicas, melhorem a conscientização sobre a importância da prática de atividade física na EF escolar e enfatizem a necessidade de realizar estudos futuros nesta área de conhecimento.

Resumo Verificar o impacto de fatores associados ao nível insuficiente de atividade física e elevado tempo de tela em adolescentes. Estudo transversal, representativo, com 899 alunos de ensino médio da rede pública de São José dos Pinhais, Paraná, Brasil. Foram mensurados o nível de atividade física e o tempo de tela e classificados respectivamente de acordo com as recomendações da Organização Mundial da Saúde e da American Academy of Pediatrics. Os fatores associados para o nível insuficiente de atividade física e tempo de tela foram: sexo, maturação sexual, apoio social e autoeficacia para a prática de atividade física. As associações foram testadas com a regressão de Poisson. E o impacto dos fatores associados ao nível insuficiente de atividade física e do elevado tempo de tela foram calculadas pela fração atribuível populacional (FAP) e a redução relativa do risco (RRR). Na presença combinada do nível insuficiente de atividades físicas com o elevado tempo de tela, o sexo feminino apresentou uma FAP = 13,04, o estágio pós-púbere FAP = 9,91 e o apoio social apresentou uma RRR = 31,00. Os achados sugerem sexo feminino e estar no estágio pós-púbere como fatores de risco, e apoio social como fator protetor a presença combinada do nível insuficiente de atividade física e do elevado tempo de tela.