Promotion of physical activities and healthy eating habits in Primary Care: maintenance of benefits

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the maintenance of the beneficial effects of the Vida Ativa Melhorando a Saúde Program, six months after its completion. Methods A randomized controlled community trial was conducted in two poles of the Academia da Saúde Program, randomly identified as control or intervention groups. The study involved 291 adults and elderly involved in the routine activities of the Academia da Saúde Program. Individuals in the intervention group also participated to the Vida Ativa Melhorando a Saúde Program for 12 weeks. Accelerometers were used to evaluate physical activities, questionnaires for the evaluation of eating habits and anthropometric measures for nutritional status. Results Six months after completion of the intervention, the beneficial results obtained for physical activities and nutritional status were not maintained. The benefits related to eating habits remained, but not exclusively due to the effect of the intervention. Conclusion The Vida Ativa Melhorando a Saúde Program, in the applied format, was not able to promote lasting beneficial effects on physical activities and nutritional status. The Program is being restructured regarding the extension of the intervention time and its didactic material.