Journal Information
Vol. 53. Issue 199.
Pages 123 (July - September 2018)
Letter to the Editor
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Physical activity and health in Peruvian teachers
Actividad física y salud en docentes peruanos
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Kiara Saenz-Lujan1
University San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima, Peru
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Tables (2)
Table 1. Obesity and overweight according to the sex of university lecturers, 2016.
Table 2. Teachers who take no regular physical exercise, 2015.
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Dear Editor:

I read with great pleasure the article “Physical activity and health for teachers. A review” by Yury Rosales-Ricardo,1 in which the author performs a documentary and literature review of scientific articles published from 1999 to February 2016 in order to update the international knowledge on physical activity and health in the teaching profession. This review is the motivation behind this letter, in which I seek to give a view of the current situation of teachers and lecturers in Peru and the constraints that a lack of physical activity place on this social sector.

According to the WHO,2 an appropriate level of regular physical activity reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and other conditions; it also improves mental, bone and functional health and is essential for weight control. However, these benefits3 are overlooked by the over 40% of Peruvian teachers who carry excess weight and, still more alarmingly, the 30% who are obese (Table 1). This situation has come about because teachers do not take sufficient physical exercise5 (Table 2).

Table 1.

Obesity and overweight according to the sex of university lecturers, 2016.

Body mass index  WomenMenTotalP value 
  N  N  N   
Normal  12  27.3  23  19.2  35  21.3   
Overweight  19  43.2  59  49.2  78  47.6   
Obese I  10  22.7  31  25.8  41  25.0  .828* 
Obese II  4.5  3.3  3.7   
Obese III  2.3  2.5  2.4   
Total  44  100  120  100  164  100   
*

Pearson's chi-squared test.

Table 2.

Teachers who take no regular physical exercise, 2015.

Country  Percentage 
Argentina  60% 
Ecuador  51% 
Chile  72% 
Mexico  64% 
Peru  56% 
Uruguay  73% 

Although we have a law that promotes physical activity in educational establishments4 it is vitally important to reinforce the promotion of lifestyles that include a healthy diet and increased physical activity. This will reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus, and improve the quality of life of teachers and lecturers with their busy routines.3

Source of financing

Self-financed.

Conflicts of interest

None.

References
[1]
Y. Rosales-Ricardo, D. Orozco, L. Yaulema, A. Parreño, V. Caiza, V. Barragán, et al.
Actividad física y salud en docentes Una revisión.
Apunts Med Esport, 52 (2017), pp. 159-166
[2]
who.int. Switzerland: World Health Organisation. Available from http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/pa/es/ [consulted 01.03.18].
[3]
J. Morales, H. Matta, J. Fuentes-Rivera, R. Pérez, C. Suárez, D. Alvines, et al.
Exceso de peso y riesgo cardiometabólico en docentes de una universidad de Lima: oportunidad para construir entornos saludables.
Educ Med, 243 (2017), pp. 1-7
[4]
Repositorio.upeu.edu.pe.
Bienestar psicológico y actividad física en docentes de una universidad privada de Lima Este.
Repositorio.upeu.edu.pe, (2017),
[consulted 02.03.18]
[5]
L. Rodríguez Guzmán, F.J. Díaz Cisneros, E. Rodríguez Guzmán.
Estudio exploratorio sobre actividad física en profesores latinoamericanos.
Revista Edu-fisicacom, 7 (2015), pp. 14-22

Lecturer in languages. Graduate in language teaching, Master of Education.

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