Obesity and negative perceptions in the neighborhood are associated with inactive or insufficiently active commuting. The relevance of this finding for public health is reinforce developing policies aimed at promoting health in Brazil and in other countries with similar characteristics.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: The Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) was conducted among civil servants at six higher education institutions located in six Brazilian state capitals. The objective of this review was to identify the publications produced within the scope of ELSA-Brasil that analyzed the participants' physical activity. DESIGN AND SETTING: Review study using baseline data from ELSA-Brasil. METHODS: Narrative review of Brazilian studies on physical activity produced using data from ELSA-Brasil participants. RESULTS:The prevalence of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) among ELSA-Brasil participants was low (44.1% among men and 33.8% among women). The main factors associated were social (higher schooling and family income), environmental (living in places with conditions and opportunities for physical activity) and individual (not being obese, being retired, not smoking and positive perception of body image). The perception of facilities for walking in the neighborhood was positively associated with both LTPA and commuting-related physical activity. An active lifestyle was a protective factor against several cardiometabolic variables (hypertension, diabetes, lipid abnormalities and cardiovascular risk over the next 10 years).Comparison between LTPA and commuting-related physical activity showed that only LTPA had a protective effect against arterial hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of physical activity among ELSA-Brasil participants was low. The main determinants were social, environmental and personal. LTPA had a greater protective effect on cardiometabolic outcomes than did commuting-related physical activity. RESULTADOS: A prevalência da atividade física no tempo livre (AFTL) em participantes do ELSA-Brasil foi baixa, (44,1% em homens e 33,8% em mulheres). Os principais fatores associados foram de ordem social (maior escolaridade e renda familiar), ambiental (viver em locais com condições e oportunidades para prática de atividade física) e individual (não ser obeso, ser aposentado/a, não ser tabagista, e ter percepção positiva da imagem corporal). A percepção de facilidades para caminhar na vizinhança foi positivamente associada tanto a AFTL quanto a atividade física no deslocamento (AFD). O estilo de vida ativo fisicamente foi fator de proteção para diversas variáveis cardiometabólicas (hipertensão arterial, diabetes, alterações lipídicas e risco cardiovascular nos próximos 10 anos). Após comparação entre AFTL e AFD, observou-se que apenas a AFTL apresenta efeito protetor para hipertensão arterial. CONCLUSÃO: A prevalência da atividade física em participantes do ELSA-Brasil foi baixa, os principais determinantes foram de ordem social, ambiental e pessoal. A AFTL apresentou maior efeito de proteção para desfechos cardiometabólicos do que a AFD. RESUMO

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Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide and in Brazil. 1,2 Epidemiological studies conducted over the last 50 years have described risk factors for cardiovascular disease and for coronary heart disease, such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, smoking and diabetes. 3 Moreover, new risk markers such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels have been highlighted over recent years as potential predictors of cardiovascular risk. 4,5 hs-CRP is an acute-phase protein produced in the liver through the primary stimulus of the interleukins IL-1 and IL-6. It has also been assumed that hs-CRP can be produced from the arterial wall. hs-CRP is an extremely sensitive marker for inflammation and tissue damage. 6 Recently, chronic inflammation has been identified as a component in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. 7-9 The association between regular physical activity and cardiovascular risk factors, 10,11 including hs-CRP, 12,13 has been the subject of evaluations. The MONICA (Multinational Monitoring of trends and determinants in Cardiovascular disease) study in Augsburg, Germany, among men and women aged 35 to 74 years, investigated the association between different domains of physical activity (leisure-time, work, domestic and commuting domains) and markers for inflammation (fibrinogen, hs-CRP and IL-6). An inverse association was found between total physical activity and hs-CRP, even after adjusting for potential confounders. 14,15 Other studies have shown similar results, i.e. indicating significant reduction of hs-CRP levels when moderate exercise is performed. 16,17 Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that results in energy expenditure above resting levels. It may occur within the domains of leisure time, commuting, household or occupational activities. 18 The amount of physical activity that is required

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