[Physical activity in a probabilistic sample in the city of Rio de Janeiro]

This study evaluated physical activity in a probabilistic sample of 4,331 individuals 12 years of age and older residing in the city of Rio de Janeiro, who participated in a household survey in 1996. Occupation and leisure activity were grouped according to categories of energy expenditure. The study also evaluated number of hours watching TV, using the computer, or playing video-games. Only 3.6% of males and 0.3% of females reported heavy occupational work. A full 59.8% of males and 77.8% of females reported never performing recreational physical activity, and there was an increase in this prevalence with age, especially for men. Women's leisure activities involved less energy expenditure and had a lower median duration than those of men. Mean daily TV/video/computer time was greater for women than for men. The greater the level of schooling, the higher the frequency of physical activity for both sexes. Analyzed jointly, these data show the low energy expenditure through physical activity by the population of the city of Rio de Janeiro. Women, the middle-aged, the elderly, and low-income individuals were at greatest risk of not performing recreational physical activity.