Obesidade sarcopênica em professoras de educação infantil: prevalência e associação com o nível de atividade física e comportamento sedentário

Abstract

Studies on sarcopenic obesity (SO) focus on the elderly population, however, SO can occur in adulthood, particularly in settings with a less active lifestyle. The level of physical activity (LPA) and sedentary behavior (SB) are independent risk factors for SO, however, the joint action of both variables is unknown, as well as the relationship between SO and the domains of physical activity (PA). Early childhood education teachers (ECETs) seem to be vulnerable to the development of SO, given the characteristics of the profession and lifestyle. In the first article, the objective was to investigate the prevalence of SO in ECETs and to verify the association of overall LPA and by domains and, in the second article, the objective was to verify the association between SO and LPA combined with SB. This is an observational, cross-sectional analytical study. The sample consisted of 317 ECETs. SO was determined by the coexistence of sarcopenia (reduced muscle mass and muscle strength) and obesity (% fat). Muscle mass and % fat were assessed by DEXA and muscle strength was assessed by the handgrip test. LPA and SB were assessed using the IPAQ questionnaire. For the LPA, participants who did not reach 150 minutes/week were considered insufficiently active, and those who reached ≥ 150 minutes/week were considered sufficiently active. The cut off point for SB was determined based on the 75th percentile (480 minutes/week). Therefore, participants were categorized as having excessive sedentary behavior (≥ 75th percentile) or low/moderate sedentary behavior (< 75th percentile). The prevalence of SO found was 7.9% (95% CI: 4.9-10.8) and SO was associated with overall LPA (OR: 3.14; 95%CI: 1.01-9.73) and to be insufficiently active and low/moderate SB (OR: 4.88 95%CI 1.49-16.0). It is concluded that there is presence of SO in ECETadult women and that this outcome is associated with LPA. It is suggested to carry out incentive and awareness strategies for the practice of PA in adults.