abstract: Purpose: Exercise interventions often result in less than predicted weight loss or even weight gain in some individuals, with over half of the weight that is lost often being regained within one year. The current study hypothesized that one year following a 12-week supervised exercise intervention, women who continued to exercise regularly but initially gained weight would lose the weight gained, reverting back to baseline with no restoration of set-point, or continue to lose weight if weight was initially lost. Conversely, those who discontinued purposeful exercise at the conclusion of the study were expected to continue to gain or regain weight. Methods: 24 women who completed the initial 12-week exercise intervention (90min/week of supervised treadmill walking at 70%VO2peak) participated in a follow-up study one year after the conclusion of the exercise intervention. Subjects underwent Dual-energy X-Ray Absorptiometry at baseline, 12-weeks, and 15 months, and filled out physical activity questionnaires at 15 months. Results: A considerable amount of heterogeneity was observed in body weight and fat mass changes among subjects, but there was no significant overall change in weight or fat mass from baseline to follow-up. 15 women were categorized as compensators and as a group gained weight (+ 0.94±3.26kg) and fat mass (+0.22±3.25kg) compared to the 9 non-compensators who lost body weight (-0.26±3.59kg) and had essentially no change in fat mass (+0.01±2.61kg) from 12-weeks to follow-up. There was a significant between group difference (p=.003) in change in fat mass from 12-weeks to follow-up between subjects who continued to regularly vigorously exercise (-2.205±3.070kg), and those who did not (+1.320±2.156kg). Additionally, energy compensation from baseline to 12-weeks and early body weight and composition changes during the intervention were moderate predictors of body weight and composition changes from baseline to follow-up. Conclusion: The main finding of this study is that following a 12-week supervised exercise intervention, women displayed a net loss of fat mass during the follow-up period if regular vigorous exercise was continued, regardless of whether they were classified as compensators or non-compensators during the initial intervention. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Exercise and Wellness 2013

Crying is infants utilize to express their emotional state. It provides the parents and the nurses a criterion to understand infants’ physiology state. Many researchers have analyzed infants’ crying sounds to diagnose specific diseases or define the reasons for crying. This thesis presents an automatic crying level assessment system to classify infants’ crying sounds that have been recorded under realistic conditions in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) as whimpering or vigorous crying. To analyze the crying signal, Welch’s method and Linear Predictive Coding (LPC) are used to extract spectral features; the average and the standard deviation of the frequency signal and the maximum power spectral density are the other spectral features which are used in classification. For classification, three state-of-the-art classifiers, namely K-nearest Neighbors, Random Forests, and Least Squares Support Vector Machine are tested in this work, and the experimental result achieves the highest accuracy in classifying whimper and vigorous crying using the clean dataset is 90%, which is sampled with 10 seconds before scoring and 5 seconds after scoring and uses K-nearest neighbors as the classifier.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular (ASCVD) disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Longstanding poor nutrition habits and lack of exercise contribute to chronic inflammation and promote the development ASCVD. In clinical trials, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating pattern, a diet rich in nutrients with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, has been shown to reduce the risk of hypertension. Its role in overall cardiovascular (CV) health, both alone and in combination with an active lifestyle, is less clear. OBJECTIVES: The primary goal of this study is to examine the relationships between the DASH eating pattern, physical activity, the development of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD). Specifically, we will evaluate the independent and combined effects of DASH and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) on cardiovascular event risk among men and women in the Framingham Heart Study Offspring (FOS) cohort. METHODS: The DASH score was derived from two sets of three-day dietary records gathered during examination visits 3 and 5 in the prospective FOS cohort. Activity was self-reported and used to generate a composite score for MVPA. Scores were constructed for each individual by multiplying the number of hours spent during each day in sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous activity by a standard weights reflecting the intensity of that activity. Subjects included 2503 individuals (1137 men and 1366 women), aged 30 years and older. Individuals were free of type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cancer, and cardiovascular disease at baseline. The DASH score was categorized according to adherence to the eating pattern, first as low, moderate, or high adherence and then dichotomized (DASH score <4.45 vs. ≥4.45). The MVPA score was classified into quintiles and also dichotomized (MVPA score <6.1 vs. ≥6.1). The dichotomous DASH and MVPA scores were then cross-classified and each subject was assigned to one of the following categories: (1) low DASH score / low activity (referent), (2) low DASH / high activity, (3) high DASH / low activity, and (4) high DASH / high activity. Follow-up started at exam 5 and continued through the ninth examination cycle in 2014. Cox proportional-hazard regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all subjects and for men and women independently, adjusting for confounding by age, BMI, cigarettes smoked per day, and grams per day of alcohol consumed. Factors found not to confound the effects of DASH and MVPA on CV risk were excluded from final models. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of approximately 20 years, 286 and 177 incident CVD cases were documented among men and women, respectively. Women in the highest DASH adherence category had approximately 28% lower total CVD risk than women in the lowest adherence group (HR, 0.72; 95% CI: 0.48-1.10). Effects in men were weaker. Women in the highest quintile of MVPA score had approximately 44% lower risk of CVD than women in the lowest quintile (HR, 0.66; 95% (0.40-1.10). Overall, CVD risk was 26% lower (HR: 0.74 (95% CI: 0.55-0.99) for those in quintile 5 vs. quintile 1. Women in the High DASH/High MVPA category had a 43% lower total CVD risk than women in the Low DASH/Low MVPA group (High DASH/High MVPA: HR, 0.57; 95% (0.36-0.90)). These associations ere generally stronger in women than men. CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective cohort study, active individuals with higher adherence to DASH was associated with a lower atherosclerotic CVD risk compared to those with lower activity and DASH adherence. The beneficial effects of diet in particular were stronger among women than men.

Health literacy (HL) is defined as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. Low HL has been associated with poorer self-reported health status, inability to manage chronic conditions, and less use of preventive services. More research is needed to explore the relationship between HL and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake and physical activity (PA). Although numerous HL interventions are evident in the literature, those that test HL as a moderator of effectiveness are lacking. Additionally, it has been recognized that systems-level HL efforts are necessary to lessen the burden of low HL. This dissertation addresses these needs with three unique studies that took place within the rural, medically underserved southwest Virginia region. Study 1 was a secondary analysis that examined the relationship and responsiveness of the Stanford Leisure-Time Activity Categorical Item (L-Cat) and adapted Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ) and determined if baseline HL status moderated intervention effects. There was high agreement L-Cat and adapted GLTEQ for classifying individuals as meeting PA recommendations. Baseline HL status did not moderate change in L-Cat or adapted GLTEQ measures. Study 2 was a secondary analysis that determined if 6-month change in SSB intake predicted 6-month change in body mass index (BMI), weight, and quality of life (QOL), and determined if HL moderated these relationships. The regression models for weight and QOL were not significant. The BMI model was significant. Six-month change in SSB intake, experimental condition, and age were significant predictors for the BMI model. As hypothesized, HL did not moderate relationships in any models. Study 3 details a multilevel mixed-methods needs assessment and collaboratively developed organizational HL improvement plan within the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). Staff responses revealed about half reported doing well across HL domains (written communication, oral communication, self-management and empowerment, supportive systems). However, needs were observed across all domains, with most improvement needed in written communication domain. There were significant correlations between clients' HL status and their perceptions of VDHs' HL practices, indicating potential areas of improvement within VDH. / Ph. D.

Yes / A large majority of primary school pupils fail to achieve 30-min of daily, in-school moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). The aim of this study was to investigate MVPA accumulation and subject frequency during academic lesson segments and the broader segmented school day. Methods: 122 children (42.6% boys; 9.9 ± 0.3 years) from six primary schools in North East England, wore uniaxial accelerometers for eight consecutive days. Subject frequency was assessed by teacher diaries. Multilevel models (children nested within schools) examined significant predictors of MVPA across each school-day segment (lesson one, break, lesson two, lunch, lesson three). Results: Pupils averaged 18.33 ± 8.34 min of in-school MVPA, and 90.2% failed to achieve the in-school 30-min MVPA threshold. Across all school-day segments, MVPA accumulation was typically influenced at the individual level. Lessons one and two—dominated by maths and English—were less active than lesson three. Break and lunch were the most active segments. Conclusion: This study breaks new ground, revealing that MVPA accumulation and subject frequency varies greatly during different academic lessons. Morning lessons were dominated by the inactive delivery of maths and English, whereas afternoon lessons involved a greater array of subject delivery that resulted in marginally higher levels of MVPA. / This research was funded by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

Yes / In England, the onset of COVID-19 and a rapidly increasing infection rate resulted in a lockdown (March-June 2020) which placed strict restrictions on movement of the public, including children. Using data collected from children living in a multi-ethnic city with high levels of deprivation, this study aimed to: (1) report children's self-reported physical activity (PA) during the first COVID-19 UK lockdown and identify associated factors; (2) examine changes of children's self-reported PA prior to and during the first UK lockdown. This study is part of the Born in Bradford (BiB) COVID-19 Research Study. PA (amended Youth Activity Profile), sleep, sedentary behaviours, daily frequency/time/destination/activity when leaving the home, were self-reported by 949 children (9-13 years). A sub-sample (n = 634) also self-reported PA (Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children) pre-pandemic (2017-February 2020). Univariate analysis assessed differences in PA between sex and ethnicity groups; multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with children's PA. Differences in children's levels of being sufficiently active prior to and during the lockdown were examined using the McNemar test; and multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors explaining change. During the pandemic, White British (WB) children were more sufficiently active (34.1%) compared to Pakistani Heritage children (PH) (22.8%) or 'Other' ethnicity children (O) (22.8%). WB children reported leaving the home more frequently and for longer periods than PH and O children. Modifiable variables related to being sufficiently active were frequency, duration, type of activity, and destination away from the home environment. There was a large reduction in children being sufficiently active during the first COVID-19 lockdown (28.9%) compared to pre-pandemic (69.4%). Promoting safe extended periods of PA everyday outdoors is important for all children, in particular for children from ethnic minority groups. Children's PA during the first COVID-19 UK lockdown has drastically reduced from before. Policy and decision makers, and practitioners should consider the findings in order to begin to understand the impact and consequences that COVID-19 has had upon children's PA which is a key and vital behaviour for health and development. / The Health Foundation Covid‑19 Award (2301201). ESRC/ MRC and British Heart Foundation (BHF). Sport England’s Local Delivery Pilot – Bradford. Wellcome Trust. UK Medical Research Council (MRC) and UK Economic and Social Science Research Council a British Heart Foundation Clinical Study grant [CS/16/4/32482] the National Institute for Health Research under its Applied Research Collaboration Yorkshire and Humber [NIHR200166]; ActEarly UK Prevention Research Partnership Consortium [MR/S037527/1]; NIHR Clinical Research Network through research delivery support for this study; UKRI Covid19 Research & Innovation Call, Medical Research Council.

Aim: To examine the relationship between reported vigorous physical activity (VPA) and body mass index (BMI) in children (6–7 years) and adolescents (13–14 years). Methods: In the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Phase Three, 75 895 children's parents and 199 502 adolescents answered questions relating to VPA, height and weight. The association between VPA and BMI was analysed using general linear models, adjusting for country gross national index. Results: Compared to children who undertook no VPA, those in the infrequent group (once or twice per week) and those in the frequent group (three or more times per week) had mean (95% CI) BMI values 0.07 kg/m 2 (0.03–0.11) and 0.09 kg/m 2 (0.03–0.15) greater, respectively (p = 0.001). Compared to adolescents reporting no VPA, those in the infrequent group had a BMI 0.19 kg/m 2 (0.15–0.23) greater while those in the frequent group had a BMI 0.01 kg/m 2 (−0.03–0.05) greater (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Reported VPA is not associated with lower BMI among children and adolescents. Investigation of VPA and BMI may be best undertaken in conjunction with other variables in the energy expenditure equation. A focus on VPA alone may be an inefficient way to manage BMI. / Revisión por pares

In nature we see a wide variety of bold colors and unique shapes. Trees personify these characteristics with their curved branches creating distinctive lines and shapes. Leaves and blossoms enhance their structures with an array of colors. Trees possess awe inspiring energy. Each tree is a living thing, its growth shaped by its environment.Similarly, my work is a response to the environment. I employ a spontaneous and bold technique in an attempt to capture the energy I perceive in nature. The use of vigorous lines and high keyed contrasting colors with varied textures conveys that trees are living, growing entities, each one unique. I remain open to new ways of expressing this aesthetic so that my work will continue to grow like a tree and evolve.

Introdução: Inatividade física é fator de risco para doenças não transmissíveis (DNTs). Dentre essas, destaca-se que a obesidade (central e adiposidade na região da cintura) é fator de risco independente para mortalidade. O International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) tem sido utilizado para investigar a epidemiologia da atividade física, com o objetivo de padronizar a investigação. Objetivos: Verificar a prevalência de atividade física segundo diferentes critérios e a associação com obesidade na população adulta de Porto Alegre/RS. Método: Este é um estudo transversal de base populacional, representativo da população adulta (18 a 90 anos) de Porto Alegre. É parte do estudo de Síndrome de Obesidade e Fatores de risco para doença cardiovascular (SOFT Study). Atividade física foi avaliada utilizando o IPAQ versão curta. Características demográficas e socioeconômicas foram investigadas. Obesidade foi determinada por índice de massa corporal P30 kg/m2 e adiposidade central pela circunferência da cintura. Características demográficas (cor da pele - auto-referida e categorizada em branca ou não-branca; idade - calculada a partir das datas de nascimento e entrevista), socioeconômicas (escolaridade - avaliada pelo número de anos completados na escola; ter trabalhado no mês precedente à entrevista, e status marital – categorizado em solteiro, separado ou viúvo, e casado ou com companheiro) e características de estilo de vida (consumo abusivo de bebidas alcoólicas – definido para mulheres que consumiram P15 gramas/dia ou homens que consumiam P30 gramas/dia 12, tabagismo – categorizado em fumante atual, ex-fumante e não tabagistas. O módulo de amostras complexas foi utilizado para considerar o efeito do desenho, c2 de Pearson para analisar a relação entre exposição de interesse e obesidade. Taxas de prevalência e intervalo de confiança (IC 95%) foram calculados com o modelo de Regressão de Cox com tempo igual a um. Resultados: Entre os critérios de baixo nível de atividade física, dos 1858 adultos 30,5% eram insuficientemente ativos conforme o protocolo do IPAQ, 25,5% realizavam menos do que 150 minutos por semana, 38,6% despendiam menos do que 1000 kcal por semana e 34,5% passavam seis horas ou mais sentados por semana. Diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os sexos, com maior prevalência entre os homens, foram detectadas para atividades vigorosas P150 min/sem (26,9% vs. 14,2%), deslocamento P150 min/sem (51,1% vs. 43,8%), prática por tempo igual ou superior a 1000 minutos por semana (18,9% vs. 14,2%) e permanência sentado por semana maior ou igual a seis horas/dia (37,4% vs. 32,4%). A relação inversa com idade foi confirmada em todos os critérios de atividade física para as mulheres e na maior parte dos critérios para os homens. Exceção constitui comportamento sedentário, associado à idade apenas entre os homens e com maior prevalência entre os mais jovens. Ao analisar a associação de alto nível de atividade física com obesidade, identificou-se na amostra que 25% eram muito ativos, 21% eram obesos e 29% tinham obesidade central. Homens e mulheres, respectivamente, apresentaram diferenças significativas quanto à prevalência de obesidade (17,5 vs. 23,5%, p=0,006), obesidade central (17,5 vs. 37,3%, p<0,001), mas não em relação a alto nível de atividade física (26,3 vs. 24,7%, p=0,5). A relação inversa de alto nível de atividade física com idade foi confirmada para homens (p<0,001) e mulheres (p<0,001), mas associação independente de alto nível de atividade física com menor risco de obesidade só foi caracterizada para mulheres (p=0,01). Conclusão: As prevalências de atividade física variam com a definição, mas os critérios do IPAQ e a duração maior ou igual a 150 minutos/semana se assemelham. As prevalências identificadas pelo IPAQ em Porto Alegre são semelhantes as descritas para o Brasil. A atividade física de alto nível é menos propensa a viés de aferição. E a associação com obesidade deve reproduzir a realidade. Na população de Porto Alegre a associação entre atividade física de alto nível e obesidade não foi confirmada para homens. Entre as mulheres, a associação foi significativa e independente de outros fatores de confusão. / Introduction: Physical inactivity is a risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCD). Among them, central obesity and waist adiposity stand out as an independent risk factor for mortality. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) has been used to assess physical activity epidemiology, aiming to standardize the investigation. Objective: To assess the prevalence of physical activity according to different criteria and its association with obesity in adults in the city of Porto Alegre, south Brazil. Methods: This is a cross-sectional population-based study, representative of the adult population (18-90years old) of Porto Alegre. It is part of the Study of Obesity and Risk Factors (SOFT study). Physical activity was assessed using the short version of IPAQ. Obesity was determined by body-mass index P 30kg/m2, and central adiposity by waist circumference. Demographic (skin color, self referred and categorized in white or non-white; age, calculated from birth and interview dates), socioeconomic (education, defined as number of years in scholl; working during the month prior to the interview; marital status, categorized in single, divorced or widowed, and married), and life style (abusive alcohol consumption, defined as P15g/day for women and P 30g/day for men; smoking, categorized in current smokers, non-smokers, and ex-smokers) characteristics were investigated. The SPSS complex samples module was used to consider the design effect. Pearson’s chi-square test was used to analyze the relation among obesity and the variables of interest. Prevalence rates and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using Cox regression with time set to 1. Results: Using the different criteria for low physical activity, 30.5% of 1858 adults were insufficiently active according to the IPAQ protocol, 25.5% performed less than 150 minutes of physical activity per week, 38.6% spent less than 1000kcal per week, and 34.5% spent six hours or more sitting per week. Statistically significant differences were detected between men and women, with a higher prevalence for men, for P150min/week of vigorous activities (26.9 vs. 14.2%), P 150min/week of walking (51.1 vs. 43.8%), P 1000min/week of practice (18.9 vs. 14.2%), and P 6h/day sitting (37.4 vs. 32.4%). Inverse correlation with age was confirmed in al criteria of physical activity for women, and on most criteria for men. An exception was sedentary behavior, associated to age only among men and with higher prevalence among young individuals. Analyzing the association of high level of physical activity with obesity, we identified that 25% of the sample were very active, 21% were obese and 29% ha central obesity. Men and women had significant differences regarding obesity (17.5 vs. 23.5%, p= 0.006) and central obesity (17.5 vs. 37.3%, p<0.001) prevalence, but not regarding high level of physical activity (26.3 vs. 24.7%, p=0.5). The inverse association of high physical activity level with age was confirmed for men (p<0.001) and women (p<0.001), but association independent of high physical activity level with less risk of obesity was only confirmed for women (p=0.01). Conclusion: Prevalence of physical activity varies according to definition, but IPAQ criteria and duration P 150min/week are similar. The prevalences identified by IPAQ in Porto Alegre are similar to those described in Brazil. High level physical activity is less prone to reporting bias, and its association with obesity should reproduce reality. In the population of Porto Alegre the associations between high level physical activity and obesity was not confirmed for men. Among women, the association was positive and independent of other confusion factors.

Introdução: Inatividade física é fator de risco para doenças não transmissíveis (DNTs). Dentre essas, destaca-se que a obesidade (central e adiposidade na região da cintura) é fator de risco independente para mortalidade. O International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) tem sido utilizado para investigar a epidemiologia da atividade física, com o objetivo de padronizar a investigação. Objetivos: Verificar a prevalência de atividade física segundo diferentes critérios e a associação com obesidade na população adulta de Porto Alegre/RS. Método: Este é um estudo transversal de base populacional, representativo da população adulta (18 a 90 anos) de Porto Alegre. É parte do estudo de Síndrome de Obesidade e Fatores de risco para doença cardiovascular (SOFT Study). Atividade física foi avaliada utilizando o IPAQ versão curta. Características demográficas e socioeconômicas foram investigadas. Obesidade foi determinada por índice de massa corporal P30 kg/m2 e adiposidade central pela circunferência da cintura. Características demográficas (cor da pele - auto-referida e categorizada em branca ou não-branca; idade - calculada a partir das datas de nascimento e entrevista), socioeconômicas (escolaridade - avaliada pelo número de anos completados na escola; ter trabalhado no mês precedente à entrevista, e status marital – categorizado em solteiro, separado ou viúvo, e casado ou com companheiro) e características de estilo de vida (consumo abusivo de bebidas alcoólicas – definido para mulheres que consumiram P15 gramas/dia ou homens que consumiam P30 gramas/dia 12, tabagismo – categorizado em fumante atual, ex-fumante e não tabagistas. O módulo de amostras complexas foi utilizado para considerar o efeito do desenho, c2 de Pearson para analisar a relação entre exposição de interesse e obesidade. Taxas de prevalência e intervalo de confiança (IC 95%) foram calculados com o modelo de Regressão de Cox com tempo igual a um. Resultados: Entre os critérios de baixo nível de atividade física, dos 1858 adultos 30,5% eram insuficientemente ativos conforme o protocolo do IPAQ, 25,5% realizavam menos do que 150 minutos por semana, 38,6% despendiam menos do que 1000 kcal por semana e 34,5% passavam seis horas ou mais sentados por semana. Diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os sexos, com maior prevalência entre os homens, foram detectadas para atividades vigorosas P150 min/sem (26,9% vs. 14,2%), deslocamento P150 min/sem (51,1% vs. 43,8%), prática por tempo igual ou superior a 1000 minutos por semana (18,9% vs. 14,2%) e permanência sentado por semana maior ou igual a seis horas/dia (37,4% vs. 32,4%). A relação inversa com idade foi confirmada em todos os critérios de atividade física para as mulheres e na maior parte dos critérios para os homens. Exceção constitui comportamento sedentário, associado à idade apenas entre os homens e com maior prevalência entre os mais jovens. Ao analisar a associação de alto nível de atividade física com obesidade, identificou-se na amostra que 25% eram muito ativos, 21% eram obesos e 29% tinham obesidade central. Homens e mulheres, respectivamente, apresentaram diferenças significativas quanto à prevalência de obesidade (17,5 vs. 23,5%, p=0,006), obesidade central (17,5 vs. 37,3%, p<0,001), mas não em relação a alto nível de atividade física (26,3 vs. 24,7%, p=0,5). A relação inversa de alto nível de atividade física com idade foi confirmada para homens (p<0,001) e mulheres (p<0,001), mas associação independente de alto nível de atividade física com menor risco de obesidade só foi caracterizada para mulheres (p=0,01). Conclusão: As prevalências de atividade física variam com a definição, mas os critérios do IPAQ e a duração maior ou igual a 150 minutos/semana se assemelham. As prevalências identificadas pelo IPAQ em Porto Alegre são semelhantes as descritas para o Brasil. A atividade física de alto nível é menos propensa a viés de aferição. E a associação com obesidade deve reproduzir a realidade. Na população de Porto Alegre a associação entre atividade física de alto nível e obesidade não foi confirmada para homens. Entre as mulheres, a associação foi significativa e independente de outros fatores de confusão. / Introduction: Physical inactivity is a risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCD). Among them, central obesity and waist adiposity stand out as an independent risk factor for mortality. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) has been used to assess physical activity epidemiology, aiming to standardize the investigation. Objective: To assess the prevalence of physical activity according to different criteria and its association with obesity in adults in the city of Porto Alegre, south Brazil. Methods: This is a cross-sectional population-based study, representative of the adult population (18-90years old) of Porto Alegre. It is part of the Study of Obesity and Risk Factors (SOFT study). Physical activity was assessed using the short version of IPAQ. Obesity was determined by body-mass index P 30kg/m2, and central adiposity by waist circumference. Demographic (skin color, self referred and categorized in white or non-white; age, calculated from birth and interview dates), socioeconomic (education, defined as number of years in scholl; working during the month prior to the interview; marital status, categorized in single, divorced or widowed, and married), and life style (abusive alcohol consumption, defined as P15g/day for women and P 30g/day for men; smoking, categorized in current smokers, non-smokers, and ex-smokers) characteristics were investigated. The SPSS complex samples module was used to consider the design effect. Pearson’s chi-square test was used to analyze the relation among obesity and the variables of interest. Prevalence rates and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using Cox regression with time set to 1. Results: Using the different criteria for low physical activity, 30.5% of 1858 adults were insufficiently active according to the IPAQ protocol, 25.5% performed less than 150 minutes of physical activity per week, 38.6% spent less than 1000kcal per week, and 34.5% spent six hours or more sitting per week. Statistically significant differences were detected between men and women, with a higher prevalence for men, for P150min/week of vigorous activities (26.9 vs. 14.2%), P 150min/week of walking (51.1 vs. 43.8%), P 1000min/week of practice (18.9 vs. 14.2%), and P 6h/day sitting (37.4 vs. 32.4%). Inverse correlation with age was confirmed in al criteria of physical activity for women, and on most criteria for men. An exception was sedentary behavior, associated to age only among men and with higher prevalence among young individuals. Analyzing the association of high level of physical activity with obesity, we identified that 25% of the sample were very active, 21% were obese and 29% ha central obesity. Men and women had significant differences regarding obesity (17.5 vs. 23.5%, p= 0.006) and central obesity (17.5 vs. 37.3%, p<0.001) prevalence, but not regarding high level of physical activity (26.3 vs. 24.7%, p=0.5). The inverse association of high physical activity level with age was confirmed for men (p<0.001) and women (p<0.001), but association independent of high physical activity level with less risk of obesity was only confirmed for women (p=0.01). Conclusion: Prevalence of physical activity varies according to definition, but IPAQ criteria and duration P 150min/week are similar. The prevalences identified by IPAQ in Porto Alegre are similar to those described in Brazil. High level physical activity is less prone to reporting bias, and its association with obesity should reproduce reality. In the population of Porto Alegre the associations between high level physical activity and obesity was not confirmed for men. Among women, the association was positive and independent of other confusion factors.