Caracterização dos usuários e do padrão de uso das academias ao ar livre

Abstract

Objective: To verify the characteristics of the users and the usage pattern of outdoor fitness equipment (OFE). Methods: Descriptive, exploratory and quantitative research, conducted in 2015, with 308 users of 22 OFE of Teresina, Piauí, Brazil. Data collection was carried out by filling out a form, which contained questions related to sociodemographic, behavioral and health aspects, nutritional profile, equipment and space usage, distance from the residence, and company for practices. Each site was visited four times, with an average visit duration of one hour. The variables were analyzed with use of measures of central tendency and dispersion. Results: The findings show an average period of OFE use of 22.2 + 17.7 months, users’ mean age of 53.8 + 12.4 years, prevalence of women (78.2%, n=241), complete secondary education (42.2%, n=130), brown race/color (55.5%, n=171), and mean BMI of 25.85 + 3.981 kg/m². It was found that 63% (n=194) of the users take up to 10 minutes to reach the outdoor gym, 87% (n=268) attend it from three to five times a week, 54.2% (n=167) remain there for 20 to 40 minutes, and 49.4% (n=152) of the subjects do not use at least one piece of equipment because of some pain (39.2%, n=60). Despite the availability of a physical education professional in a majority (70.8%, n=218) of OFE, having a follow-up conducted by this professional was considered the most urgent need (36.7%, n=113). Conclusion: In the investigated outdoor gyms there was the prevalence of brown female users, with a complete secondary education, who live near the gym and make use of it three to five times a week, remaining in the location for 20 to 40 minutes.