Sedentary behavior is a main risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality. To investigate the association between sedentary behavior and metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors. We assessed 322 participants aged between 18 to 65 years. Physical activity and sedentary behavior were measured with accelerometers (Actigraph®). Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, percentage of body fat, diet and blood markers (glucose, lipid profile, insulin and HOMA-IR) were measured with standardized protocols. Thirty four percent of participants were physically inactive and spent on average 8.7 h/day on sedentary activities. Per one hour increase in sedentary behavior there were significant adverse changes in glucose (4.79 mg/dl), insulin (2.73 pmol/l), HOMA-IR (0.75), BMI (0.69 kg/m²), waist circumference (1.95 cm), fat mass (1.03%), total cholesterol (9.73 mg/dl), HDL-cholesterol (-3.50 mg/dl), LDL-cholesterol (10.7 mg/dl) and triglycerides (12.4 mg/dl). These findings were independent of main confounding factors including total physical activity, dietary factors, BMI and socio-demographics. The detrimental effect of sedentary behaviors on cardiometabolic and obesity-related traits is independent of physical activity levels. Therefore, reducing sedentary time should be targeted in the population apart from increasing their physical activity levels.

There has not been much study of risk profiles in older people according to different levels of practice in physical activity. For this reason, the aim of this research was to evaluate whether the elements that influence the quality of life and factors such as gender and education can predict the level of physical activity in the physically active elderly population. The Fernández–Ballesteros quality of life questionnaire and the WHO International Physical Activity Questionnaire were applied to a sample of 397 people with a mean age of 69.65 years (SD = 4.71). The results revealed the following predictive factors of practicing a low level of physical activity (p < 0.05): being a woman; having a low educational level; and low scores in activity and leisure and in functional skills. In conclusion, gender, education, functional skills, activity and leisure, and health are elements of quality of life that predict the level of physical activity performed by the elderly, where it is necessary to use leisure activities (visiting friends, playing games, running errands) as an indirect way to increase participation in physical activity.

A pesar de que existe suficiente evidencia científica que confirma los beneficios de la práctica regular de AF^3,5–10, actualmente 31,1% de la población adulta a nivel mundial no cumple con las recomendaciones mínimas de AF. En Chile 19,8% de la población reportó ser físicamente inactiva según la encuesta nacional de salud (ENS) 2009-2010^11,12. Si bien la práctica de AF se asocia a una reducción en el riesgo de desarrollar obesidad, DMT2, HTA y síndrome metabólico en población internacional^8,13–16, se desconoce si cumplir con la recomendación de AF se asocia a una disminución en el riesgo de desarrollar estas condiciones. En consecuencia, el objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la asociación entre inactividad física con obesidad, marcadores de salud metabólicos, DMT2, HTA y síndrome metabólico en población chilena.

Antecedentes- La prevalencia de diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DMT2) se ha duplicado en los últimos años a nivel mundial, en gran medida como consecuencia de la modificación de los estilos de vida de las personas. Existe muchos factores asociados al desarrollo de DMT2, sin embargo, es necesario identificar cuáles de estos factores tienen mayor o menor implicancia en población chilena. En consecuencia, el objetivo de este estudio fue Identificar qué factores sociodemográficos, de estilos de vida y salud tienen mayor implicancia con el riesgo de padecer DMT2 en Chile.Metodología: Estudio de prevalencia basado en los resultados de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud 2009-2010, a partir de una muestra de 4.700 personas (4.162 normales; 538 diabéticos). Se evaluaron factores sociodemográficos, antropométricos, de estilos de vida, salud y bienestar y variables metabólicas. La asociación entre los factores analizados y DMT2 se determinó mediante regresión logística.Resultados: Dentro de los principales factores de riesgo no modificables asociados a DMT2 se encuentra la edad ≥ 45 años, sexo femenino y antecedentes familiares de DMT2. Los factores de riesgo modificables más significativos fueron: hipertensión arterial, sobrepeso, obesidad, obesidad central, inactividad física y alto nivel de sedentarismo.Conclusión: La identificación y control de los principales factores de riesgo modificables de DMT2, es clave para disminuir la prevalencia de esta patología y mejorar la calidad de vida de la población.

Biking and walking are active commuting, which is considered an opportunity to create healthy habits. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the main environmental and psychosocial barriers perceived by students, leading to less Active Commuting (AC) to university and to not reaching the Physical Activity (PA) recommendations. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 1349 university students (637 men and 712 women) were selected. A self-reported questionnaire was applied to assess the mode of commuting, PA level and barriers to the use of the AC. Results: Women presented higher barriers associated with passive commuting than men. The main barriers for women were “involves too much planning” (OR: 5.25; 95% CI: 3.14–8.78), “It takes too much time” (OR: 4.62; 95% CI: 3.05–6.99) and “It takes too much physical effort “ (OR: 3.18; 95% CI: 2.05–4.94). In men, the main barriers were “It takes too much time” (OR: 4.22; 95% CI: 2.97–5.99), “involves too much planning” (OR: 2.49; 95% CI: 1.67–3.70) and “too much traffic along the route” (OR: 2.07; 95% CI: 1.47–2.93). Psychosocial barriers were found in both sexes. Conclusions: Psychosocial and personal barriers were more positively associated with passive commuting than environmental barriers. Interventions at the university are necessary to improve the perception of AC and encourage personal organization to travel more actively.

Objective: To compare the differences in the modes and distance of the displacements in high school and university stage in the same sample. Methods: A total of 1288 volunteer university students (614 males and 674 females) participated, with an average age of 22.7 ± 5.8 years, belonging to four private and public universities in Chile where a validated self-report questionnaire was applied to the study, which included the modes, travel time, and distance at school and university. Results: The active commuting decreases from school to university when leaving home (males: 39.6% to 34.0%; p = 0.033 and females: 32.9% to 18.5%, p < 0.001), as well as when returning (males: 44.1% to 33.7%; p < 0.001 and females: 38.6% to 17.6%, p < 0.001). Conversely, non-active modes of transport increase, especially in females (go: 67.1% to 81.4%, return: 61.5% to 82.6%), affected by the increase in the use of public transportation in university. It was also defined that at both school and at university, the active commuting decreases the greater the distance travelled. Conclusion: The active modes of commuting decreased between high school and university and the non-active mode of commuting was the most frequent form of mobility to high school and university, observing that the active trips decreased when the distance from the home to high school or university increased. Public and private intervention policies and strategies are required to maintain or increase the modes of active commuting in the university stage for an active life in adulthood.