Surveillance of physical activity (PA) is essential for the development of health promotion initiatives. The aim of the present study was to examine the prevalence of PA and sedentary behaviour with respect to socio-demographic factors in Chile. A representative sample of 5434 adults aged ≥15 years (59% women) who participated in the Chilean National Health Survey (2009–2010) were included. Socio-demographic data (age, sex, environment, education level, income level and smoking status) were collected for all participants. PA levels were assessed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. 19.8% [95% CI: 18.1–21.6] of the Chilean population did not meet PA recommendations (≥600 MET min week⁻¹). The prevalence of physical inactivity was higher in participants aged ≥65 years, compared with the youngest age groups and was higher in women than in men. However, it was lower for participants with high, compared with low, education or income levels. The overall prevalence of sedentary risk behaviour (spending >4 h sitting per day) was 35.9% [95% CI: 33.7–38.2]. Physical inactivity correlates strongly with socio-demographic factors such as age, gender and educational level. Results identify social and economic groups to which future public health interventions should be aimed to increase PA in the Chilean population.

Background: Physical activity (PA) surveillance, policy, and research efforts need to be periodically appraised to gain insight into national and global capacities for PA promotion. The aim of this paper was to assess the status and trends in PA surveillance, policy, and research in 164 countries. Methods: We used data from the Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA!) 2015 and 2020 surveys. Comprehensive searches were performed for each country to determine the level of development of their PA surveillance, policy, and research, and the findings were verified by the GoPA! Country Contacts. Trends were analyzed based on the data available for both survey years. Results: The global 5-year progress in all 3 indicators was modest, with most countries either improving or staying at the same level. PA surveillance, policy, and research improved or remained at a high level in 48.1%, 40.6%, and 42.1% of the countries, respectively. PA surveillance, policy, and research scores decreased or remained at a low level in 8.3%, 15.8%, and 28.6% of the countries, respectively. The highest capacity for PA promotion was found in Europe, the lowest in Africa and low- and lower-middle-income countries. Although a large percentage of the world’s population benefit from at least some PA policy, surveillance, and research efforts in their countries, 49.6 million people are without PA surveillance, 629.4 million people are without PA policy, and 108.7 million live in countries without any PA research output. A total of 6.3 billion people or 88.2% of the world’s population live in countries where PA promotion capacity should be significantly improved. Conclusion: Despite PA is essential for health, there are large inequalities between countries and world regions in their capacity to promote PA. Coordinated efforts are needed to reduce the inequalities and improve the global capacity for PA promotion.

To determine profiles of urban runners based on socio-demographic, health, motivational, training characteristics and running-related beliefs and behaviours. Mixed, exploratory, sequential study with two stages: 1) quantitative, using an online survey; and 2) qualitative, using semi-structured interviews with runners from the previous stage. Participants were recruited via: running routes commonly attended by runners, eight races, previous databases and social media networks. The survey collected information on six dimensions: (1) socio-demographic; (2) health; (3) motivations; (4) training characteristics; (5) running-related behaviour; and (6) beliefs and perceptions about health. Profiles were identified using a two-step hierarchical clustering analysis. Subsequently, 15 interviews were conducted with participating runners across each of the identified profiles. Qualitative analysis complemented the profiles characterization, explaining motivations to start and continue running, beliefs about risk factors and injury prevention, and the physical therapist’s role in rehabilitation. Statistical analysis from stage one was conducted using SPSS 22 with a confidence level of 5%. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic and content analyses. A total of 821 surveys were analysed (46% female), mean aged 36.6±10.0 years. Cluster analysis delineated four profiles (n = 752) according to years of running experience, weekly running volume and hours of weekly training. Profiles were named “Beginner” (n = 163); “Basic” (n = 164); “Middle” (n = 160) and “Advanced” (n = 265). Profiles were statistically different according to sex, age, years of running experience, training characteristics, previous injuries and use of technological devices (p<0.05). There were identified motivations to start and continue running. Beliefs about risk factors vary among stretching, footwear, training surface and overload. Runners identified the physical therapist as a specialist, involved in the rehabilitation process and showing empathy towards the patient. The identification of these profiles allows the generation of future prospective studies and clinical trials to evaluate risk and prognostic factors targeting specific populations of runners, with the ultimate aim of reducing running-related injury.

Background: The 2016 Chilean Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth is a review of the evidence across indicators of behaviors, settings, and sources of influence associated with physical activity (PA) of Chilean children and youth.Methods: A Research Work Group reviewed available evidence from publications, surveys, government documents and datasets to assign a grade for 11 indicators for PA behavior based on the percentage of compliance for defined benchmarks. Grades were defined as follows: A, 81% to 100% of children accomplishing a given benchmark; B, 61% to 80%; C, 41% to 60%; D, 21% to 40%; F, 0% to 20%; INC, incomplete data available to assign score.Results: Grades assigned were for i) ‘Behaviors that contribute to overall PA levels’: Overall PA, F; Organized Sport Participation, D; Active Play, INC; and Active Transportation, C-; ii) ‘Factors associated with cardiometabolic risk’: Sedentary Behavior, D; Overweight and Obesity, F; Fitness, F; and iii) ‘Factors that influence PA’: Family and Peers, D; School, D; Community and Built Environment, C; Government Strategies and Investments, C.Conclusions: Chile faces a major challenge as most PA indicators scored low. There were clear research and information gaps that need to be filled with the implementation of consistent and regular data collection methods.

A study was conducted to assess the validity of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) for measuring sedentary behaviour (SB) in the Chilean adult population. About 217 adults (93/124 male/female, 43.8 ± 15.75 years) who were randomly selected during National Health Survey 2009–2010 completed the protocol. The participants wore an ActiGraph GT3X (AG) for 7 consecutive days and then completed the GPAQ (single-item question for measuring time spent sitting in a usual day). Validity was examined using Spearman’s correlation, mean bias and limits of agreement (LoA), with AG (vertical axis <100 counts · min⁻¹) as the reference standard for estimates of SB in bouts of 1 (AG1), 5 (AG5) and 10 (AG10) min. Agreement between the GPAQ and AG for classifying data into quartiles and tertiles was assessed with kappa method. The GPAQ showed fair correlation with AG1, AG5 and AG10 (range = 0.23–0.26), with large mean biases (range = −293.9, −76.12 min · day⁻¹). Agreement between the GPAQ and AG1, AG5 and AG10 was poor for categorising time spent in SB into tertiles and quartiles. The single question from the GPAQ has shown fair validity for measuring SB and poor ability for correctly classifying individuals into tertiles or quartiles of SB in a Chilean population.

Little is known about the relationship between physical activity (PA) and cardiovascular risk factors in the Chilean population. To investigate the association between different levels and intensities of PA and the prevalence of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in Chilean adults. Data from the National Health Survey 2009-10 including 5157 participants, provided by the Epidemiology Department of the Ministry of Health, was analyzed in this study. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, metabolic syndrome and dyslipidemia were determined using international criteria. PA levels were determined using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ v2) and different levels of PA were derived from it (transport-related, moderate and vigorous PA). Quartiles of PA were determined to investigate the association between PA and cardiovascular risk factors. Twenty three percent of women and 17.1% of men did not meet the PA recommendation (≥ 600 METs.min.week-1). When prevalence of CV risk factors were compared between inactive individuals (< 600 METs.min.week-1) and active individuals (≥ 9500 METs.min.week-1) a significantly lower prevalence of diabetes mellitus (6.2% and 10%), hypertension (18.0% and 12.4%) and metabolic syndrome (8.9% and 12.1%) for women and men, respectively, was found in the active participants. Similar results were found for high versus low transport-related PA. Increasing levels of PA are associated with a significantly lower frequency of cardiovascular risk factors in Chilean adults.