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Epidemiology

Food consumption and its association with leisure-time physical activity and active commuting in Brazilian workers

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 74, pages 314–321 (2020)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives

An in-depth understanding of the relationship between food consumption and physical activity is relevant since these behaviours could influence each other, while both have an effect on obesity and chronic diseases. In this context, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of various combinations of food consumption (fruits, vegetables, sweets and snacks) on the associations with PA domains (leisure and commute) among Brazilian industrial workers.

Subjects/methods

This is part of a cross-sectional national survey developed in Brazil using data from the “Lifestyle and Leisure Habits of Industrial Workers” project. A total of 52,774 workers (response rate: 90.6%) responded to a validated questionnaire about the frequency of their consumption of fruit, vegetables, sweets and snacks, their practice of LTPA and active commuting. The answers were analysed by multilevel regression, controlled by sociodemographic behaviour and the presence of hypertension, diabetes and overweight.

Results

Workers with a simultaneously adequate consumption of fruit, vegetables, sweets and snacks were 2.29 (1.74; 2.99 p-value < 0.001) more likely to perform LTPA. In the full model, there was no association among any of the combinations of food consumption and active commuting.

Conclusion

A better food consumption behaviour was reported among workers who practiced leisure physical activity when compared to those who did not.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) and the National Council of Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for the scholarships received as well as the Brazilian Industrial Social Service (SESI) who gave logistical and financial support.

Funding

The survey received logistical and financial support from the Brazilian Social Service for Industry (SESI-ND).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Education, Research Center in Physical Activity and Health, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil

    Jaqueline Aragoni da Silva

  2. Department of Physical Education, Research Center in Physical Activity and Health, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil

    Kelly Samara da Silva

  3. Department of Physical Education, Research Center in Physical Activity and Health, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil

    Thiago Sousa Matias

  4. Industry Federation of Santa Catarina, Industrial Intelligence Analyst, Florianópolis, Brazil

    Danielle Biazzi Leal

  5. Florianópolis, Brazil

    Elusa Santina Antunes de Oliveira

  6. Research Center in Physical Activity and Health, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil

    Markus Vinicius Nahas

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  1. Jaqueline Aragoni da Silva
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Correspondence to Jaqueline Aragoni da Silva.

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da Silva, J.A., da Silva, K.S., Matias, T.S. et al. Food consumption and its association with leisure-time physical activity and active commuting in Brazilian workers. Eur J Clin Nutr 74, 314–321 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-019-0454-5

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