Level of physical activity and caloric expenditure of individuals with diabetes mellitus during leisure activities

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the level of physical activity and caloric expenditure, measured in metabolic equivalents (METs), during leisure activities of individuals with diabetes mellitus being cared for at a district basic health unit in a city in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The convenience sample comprised 134 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus who received treatment between May and August 2009. Data were collected with a form containing demographic and clinical variables and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Level of physical activity was calculated using the IPAQ Guidelines for Data Processing and Analysis. For data analysis, descriptive statistics and the chi-squared test were used. Mean age of participants was 63.5 ± 10.27 years and time of diagnosis, 11.71 ± 7.94 years. Regarding level of physical activity, 11.9% were inactive; 50% and 17.9% were classified as active and very active, respectively. The results showed that 56% did not exercise during their leisure time. Mean sitting time surpassed five hours per day. Half of the subjects did not perform physical activity during their leisure time and only 20.1% reached the recommended level of physical activity to obtain health benefits. Only 20.5% of the participants reached the recommended level of caloric expenditure (kcal) to obtain health benefits. Domestic physical activity presented the highest caloric expenditure, calculated in METs, followed by work activities.