OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence and associated variables in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), by gender, in Duque de Caxias/Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Methods: This is a population-based cross-sectional study with 1,246 adults. During home visits, questionnaires were applied on LTPA, socio-demographic factors and anthropometric examinations were performed. RESULTS: Physical inactivity was high (70%) (p-value <0001) and men were more active (43.3%) than women (20%) (p-value <0.0001). Men practiced significantly more competitive and male-associated LTPA. Taking care of children was a factor that increased the likelihood of men engaging in LTPA (OR = 2.75, p-value = 0.034), whereas among women, those who spent less time on domestic activities (OR = 0.99, p-value = 0.016), did not smoke (OR = 2.63, p-value = 0.039) and had greater accumulation of abdominal fat (OR = 2.72, p -value = 0.023), practiced LTPA. CONCLUSION: Men chose LTPAs considered masculine. Socio-demographic and anthropometric measures had different associations with LTPA between the genders.
Leisure-time physical activity; Gender; Household physical activities; Abdominal obesity; Population studies
