Physical Activity in Puerto Rico: Recommendations for Research, Surveillance, and Policy Development

The objectives of this report were to 1) describe the 2015 and 2020 physical activity (PA) Country Cards of Puerto Rico (PR), including data beyond the 2020 Country Card, and 2) propose recommendations for promoting PA research, surveillance, and policy development.

A comparison of the 2015 and 2020 data from the PR Country Cards provided by the Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA!) was conducted. Country Card data were collected from the World Bank, the United Nations, PubMed, and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS). This ensured that data indicators were standardized for global comparability. Local representatives facilitated data collection through a collaborative review process with GoPA! Country Card data included demographic characteristics, mortality rates, PA prevalence, surveillance data, policy, and research indicators.

In 2015, the BRFSS data indicated a PA prevalence of 34% in PR, decreasing to 20% in 2020. No data on inactivity-related mortality or a national standalone plan focused on PA was available. From 2015 to 2020, research output in PR increased slightly, improving its global ranking from the 61st to the 58th position.

The PR Country Card is a tool to raise awareness and identify surveillance, research, and policy gaps. Recommendations include establishing a dedicated PR health monitoring system, integrating PA into PR national public health plans, and establishing an interinstitutional coalition for PA research (in PR). Multi-sector efforts from policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders are essential for meaningful progress in improving PA levels and public health in PR.