Prevalence of Brazilian children and adolescents who met health criteria for aerobic fitness: systematic review update for Report Card Brazil Project

Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Physical Activity among Children and Adolescents: 3-Year Longitudinal Study in Brazil

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of physical activity (PA) levels over 36 months on the cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) of children and adolescents. This was a longitudinal study carried out from 2016 to 2019 with 127 children and adolescents (82 males and 45 females) aged 13.5 ± 1.2 years at baseline. The 20 m shuttle run test (20 mSRT) was used to predict CRF. The questionnaires PAQ-C and PAQ-A were used to investigate PA. The 2 × 4 repeated measures ANCOVA was used, and the significance level was p ≤ 0.05. There was a linear trend in the interaction between level of PA and CRF throughout the 36-month study period in both sexes (males-distance covered: F1.78 = 4.567; p = 0.04; VO_2max: F1.78 = 5.323; p = 0.02; females-distance covered: F1.41 = 6.989; p = 0.01; VO_2max: F1.41 = 6.585; p = 0.01). Physically active males showed a gradual increase in CRF throughout the analyzed period. For females, CRF remained constant in the first 24 months, showing a slight increase only after 36 months in physically active ones. The findings of this study reinforce the importance of PA throughout childhood and adolescence to improve CRF.

Results from Brazil's 2022 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents

This research aims to summarize the process and results of the 2022 Report Card on Physical Activity for Brazilian children and adolescents. A group of experts led by 10 PhD researchers gathered the best possible evidence on physical activity indicators. The Report Card Brazil 2022 included the top 10 indicators of physical activity and sleep, obesity, and poor mental health variables, which made up four dimensions: (I) Daily Behaviors; (II) Settings and Sources of Influence; (III) Government Strategies and Investments; and (IV) Health Outcomes. Comprehensive searches, including peer-reviewed and gray literature searches, were performed for each indicator. Data were considered from systematic reviews, local and national surveys, websites, and official information from the Brazilian Federal Government. Grades from the indicators ranged from F (Active Play) to B (School). In addition, the results found for each indicator were Overall Physical Activity (D), Organized Sport Participation (C-), Active Transportation (C), Sedentary Behaviors (D), Sleep (C), Family and Peers (C-), Community and Environment (C), Government (D+), Physical Fitness (D+), Obesity (11.7%), and Poor Mental Health (37.8%). Successfully strategies for increasing physical activity among Brazilian children and adolescents should look at the different indicators presented in this report.