Physical activity in the family dailylife of the peripheries.

A view from Rio de Mouro – Sintra

Abstract

Physical activity, as a health determinant related to habits and lifestyles, is an important element in influencing the health status of populations. Thus, it is relevant to observe how it is included in family daily life and how families relate to places of practice. The literature shows the relationship between physical activity and health, socioeconomic conditions, space, and time. The objective of this study is to identify which factors condition the practice of physical activity, trying to verify if proximity to public spaces, equipment and sports and leisure services accessible by pedestrian mode can stimulate the integration of this practice within the framework of daily family activities. This analysis has as a case study the parish of Rio de Mouro (Sintra), in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Portugal. The methods included the collection of information on public spaces and recreational and leisure activities and a household survey to verify the residents’ practices linking them with socioeconomic conditions and proximity to services. The results show that the population practicing physical activity constitutes a minority, a situation that arises from several factors: socioeconomic factors, the extent of commuting and working hours and the composition of the household, with evidence for differences between households with or without minors. The most controversial result is the verification that the use of a car in daily life is fundamental for the practice of physical activity since it allows the realization of more activities by families in the same available time.