A study by the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel) in partnership with the global public health organization Vital Strategies warns that, currently, 56.8% of Brazilians are overweight. The percentage represents the sum of overweight and obese people, that is, with a body mass index (BMI) equal to or above 25. The rate reaches 68.5% in the age group aged between 45 and 54 years and the 40.3% among the youngest, aged 18 to 24 years. In addition, 10.3% of the population have a medical diagnosis of diabetes. The most affected groups are people aged 65 or over (26.2%) and people with up to eight years of schooling (15.7%). When it comes to arterial hypertension, 26.6% of Brazilians received the diagnosis, with higher prevalence among women (30.8%), elderly people over 65 years old (62.5%) and those with up to eight years of schooling ( 38%). Among the more educated, the prevalence drops to less than half (15.6%). The data are part of the Telephone Survey of Risk Factors for Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases in Times of Pandemic (Covitel), which heard 9,000 Brazilians over the age of 18 from capitals and cities in the interior of the five regions of Brazil, by telephone ( landline and cell phone), between January and April 2023. Food According to the survey, less than half of the population in Brazil (45.5%) consume vegetables five times or more a week. “This shows that consumption remains low among Brazilians, despite having increased in the last year after a significant drop during the pandemic (increase of 15.2% between 2022 and 2023)”, highlighted the study. The age group that most consumes these foods is that of people aged 65 or over, where 45.5% consume greens and vegetables at the recommended weekly frequency. In Brazil, 45.5% consume vegetables – Tânia Rêgo/Agência Brasil The survey shows inequalities in the consumption of these foods when considering gender and education. Women consume vegetables more than men – 51.5% and 39.1%, respectively. In addition, 57.5% of people with more education (12 years or more of study) have vegetables in their diet most days of the week, while 40.9% of the less educated (zero to eight years of study) have have this habit. Differences are also large between the North Region (36.4%), for example, and the South (52.6%). Fruit intake presents a similar scenario: 41.8% of Brazilians have fruit in their diet five times a week or more. In this case, the oldest (65 years or older) are also the ones who consume the most with adequate frequency (62.8%). Women eat more fruit than men: 49.6% against 33.4%. Among whites, 47.3% have the habit, more than among blacks and browns (37.9%). Regular fruit consumption is present for 48.2% of the population with more schooling and for 39.3% of those with less schooling. Regarding the inclusion of soft drinks and artificial juices in the diet, 17.8% of Brazilians consume this type of product five times or more times a week. Physical activity According to the survey, only 31.5% of Brazilians practice at least 150 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity per week. There are considerable differences when looking at cutouts such as gender, age and education. 34.8% of men are physically active, against 28.3% of women. 48.3% of people with higher education are physically active – more than twice the number of less educated people (20.9%). The index stands at 18.9% among those over 65 years of age and at 37.9% in the 25 to 34 age group. Smoking Covitel 2023 shows that the current prevalence of smoking (use of conventional, straw, paper, cigar and pipe cigarettes) in Brazil is 11.8%. In the three periods evaluated by the survey (pre-pandemic, first quarter of 2022 and first quarter of 2023), the prevalence remained stable in the country, interrupting a downward trend registered over the last few years. Those who smoke the most are men (15.2%), people from the South Region (15.8%) and those aged between 45 and 54 years (15.2%). Alcohol The data also point to a 22.1% prevalence of alcohol abuse among Brazilians in the 30 days preceding the interviews. Prevalence was higher among males (28.9%), with higher education (26.5%) and young adults between 18 and 24 years old (32.6%). Already 7.2% of the Brazilian population reported regular consumption of alcohol, which includes three or more times a week. The highest prevalences are among people from the Southeast (10.2%) and men (11.8%). Mental health Currently, 12.7% of Brazilians report having received a medical diagnosis of depression. The highest prevalences are in the South Region (18.3%), among women (18.1%) and in the age group of 55 to 64 years (17%), followed by young people aged 18 to 24 years (14.1% ). The medical diagnosis for anxiety reached 26.8% of Brazilians. According to the study, a third (31.6%) of the younger population aged 18 to 24 is anxious. Prevalences are higher in the Midwest (32.2%) and among women (34.2%). Sleep Finally, 59.3% of Covitel respondents stated sleeping the recommended amount of time for their age. The numbers show that 58.9% of Brazilians say they sleep well, with 63.9% among men and 54.3% among women. In terms of race/color, there are also differences: 64.2% of white people report sleeping well, a rate that stands at 55.1% among blacks and browns.
Agência Brasil
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