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Abstract

Background:The aging population justifies looking at active aging with an expectation of healthy physical and emotional vitality. Healthy aging is defined as the process of developing and maintaining functional skills in aging. Depression has an impact on the individual functional ability. The practice of physical activity, even if it mild, contributes to the physical and mental health of the older people.Objective: To verify the influence of physical activity on older people depression for healthy aging. Methodology:The sample consisted of 690 older people non-selected Brazilian volunteers from both genders present in a street race in Rio de Janeiro from October 30, 2019 to March 12, 2020, who answered the questionnaire composed of socio-demographic questions and extracted from the BDI-II (Beck Depression Inventory-II) and the Baecke-Old. Results:The average age was in the range 65-69 years old, 75.4% of the sample with a university degree; 84% actives, 16% seden-tary, 80.6% without depression. The hypothesis test, Pearson's chisquare presented that the differences found between the active and sedentary groups are significant, with 94.4%of certainty. Conclusion:The hypothesis test, Pearson's chi-square presented that the differences found between the active and sedentary groups are significant, with 94.4%of certainty. A sample with a university degree (75.4%), practicing physical activity (84%) without depression (80.6%) underlines the certainty that the educational level and physical activity directly influence the depression of the older people.