Physical Activity Promotion in Brazil

ICSSPE member Agita Sao Paolo has been cited by the Nature Journal as good practice example for reducing physical inactivity.   

Dealing with the global problem posed by non-communicable diseases which negatively influence the health of the global population, author Lawrence O. Gostin’s article contains proposals that emphasise prevention and multi-sectoral collaboration between governments, companies, society and philanthropy.

In this context Agita São Paulo is referred to as a successful example of a physical activity programme that operates across multiple sectors and “has been praised by the WHO and copied in other Latin American countries, and encourages large companies to promote physical activity among their employees".

The Agita São Paulo programme was developed to combat the low levels of physical activity amongst residents in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. The Portuguese word ‘Agita’ is translated into “move the body”, but the term also includes considerations of the mind, social health and citizenship. The programme encourages residents of São Paulo to accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity per day, and this message is supported by the programme’s mascot called ‘half-hour man’. To encourage people to become more physically active, the Agita São Paulo seeks to deliver interventions that have an impact on interpersonal, social and physical environment factors. Communication channels and instruments encompass non-paid mass media, promotional giveaways, annual mega-events in the community for adults and children (Agita Galera), influencing policies, statutes and laws, improving physical environments and working with health professionals to ‘prescribe’ physical activity.

The programme includes more than 300 governmental, non-governmental, and private organisations from various sectors such as health, education, sport and business. The member organisations are directly responsible for planning, organising, and carrying out the programme’s multiple activities and spreading the message in the community.

The original article as well as further information on Agita São Paulo can be obtained from: http://www.nature.com/news/non-communicable-diseases-healthy-living-needs-global-governance-1.15510 and http://www.portalagita.org.br/en/agita-sao-paulo/who-we-are.html