OBJECTIVE:To analyze factors associated with physical activity and the mean time spent in some sedentary activities among school-aged children. METHODS:A cross-sectional study was carried out in a random sample of 592 schoolchildren aged nine to 16 years in 2005, in São Luís, Northern Brazil. Data were collected by means of a 24-Hour Physical Activity Recall Questionnaire, concerning demographic and socioeconomic variables, physical activities practiced and time spent in certain sedentary activities. Physical activities were classifi ed according to their metabolic equivalents (MET), and a physical activity index was estimated for each child. Sedentary lifestyle was estimated based on time spent watching television, playing videogames and on the computer/internet. Chi square test was used to compare proportions. Linear regression analysis was used to establish associations. Estimates were adjusted for the effect of the sampling design. RESULTS:The mean of the physical activity index was 605.73 MET-min/day (SD = 509.45). School children that were male (coeffi cient=134.57; 95%CI 50.77; 218.37), from public schools (coeffi cient.= 94.08; 95%CI 12.54; 175.62 and in the 5th to 7th grade (coeffi cient.=95.01; 95%CI 8.10;181.92 presented higher indices than females, children from private schools and in the 8th to the 9th grade (p<0,05). On average, students spent 2.66 hours/day in sedentary activities. Time spent in sedentary activities was signifi cantly lower for children aged nine to 11 years (coeffi cient.= -0,49 hr/day; 95%CI -0.88; -0.10) and in lower socioeconomic classes (coeffi cient.=-0.87; 95%CI -1.45;-0.30). Domestic chores (59.43%) and walking to school (58.43%) were the most common physical activities. CONCLUSIONS:Being female, in private schools and in the 8th to 9th grade were factors associated with lower levels of physical activity. Younger schoolchildren and those from low economic classes spent less time engaged in sedentary activities.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o consumo alimentar de 570 escolares de 9 a 16 anos das redes pública e privada de ensino, em São Luís (MA), matriculados da 4ª à 8ª séries, em 2005. MÉTODOS: Os dados de consumo alimentar foram coletados por meio de Inquérito Alimentar Recordatório de 24 horas. O consumo de energia, macronutrientes, vitamina A, vitamina C, ferro e cálcio foram comparados às Dietary Reference Intakes. Considerou-se o número de vezes em que os alimentos apareceram na dieta e o seu agrupamento foi feito de acordo com a proposta da Pirâmide Alimentar Brasileira. O teste do qui-quadrado foi utilizado na análise estatística. RESULTADOS: O baixo consumo de alimentos embutidos (em torno de 6%), o adequado consumo de carnes e ovos (95,9%) e a baixa omissão do desjejum (3,2%), almoço (2,2%) e jantar (3,1%) foram aspectos favoráveis da dieta. Por outro lado, elevado consumo de biscoitos (52,6%), baixo consumo de frutas (52,6%) e hortaliças (34,4%), elevado consumo de açúcares e doces (69,4%), óleos e gorduras (65,6%), além do consumo de refrigerantes (25,8%) e sucos industrializados (35,8%) ter sido maior do que o consumo de sucos naturais (23,4%) foram aspectos negativos da dieta. Observou-se consumo insuficiente de energia em 66,3% dos escolares, de lipídeos em 30,2%, de vitamina A em 28,7%, de vitamina C em 59,2% e cálcio em 98,8%. CONCLUSÃO: Estratégias educativas para assegurar a formação de hábitos alimentares saudáveis devem abranger conteúdos comuns e específicos, refletindo diferenças no consumo alimentar de alunos das escolas públicas e privadas.

The prevalence of primary hyperaldosteronism in the studied sample was 0.96% of the total. However, when only the patients with refractory hypertension were evaluated, the prevalence was 14.3%.