Prevalence and predictors of physical inactivity in a slum in Brazil.

The aim of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of physical inactivity and examine the role of potential predictors in a very low-income adult population in a slum located in Recife city, northeast of Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,176 subjects aged 20-60 years residing in a slum. Using the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, 307 (26.1%) study participants-97 (23.8%) men and 210 (27.3%) women-have a low physical activity score (MET-minutes per week). Increased age was associated with physical inactivity only in people without overweight/obesity. Low physical activity was less common (i.e., respondents were more active) than in other Brazilian population-based studies. These results suggest that the relationship between physical activity and socioeconomic level is more complex and depends on the internal characteristics of the community.