Paula Laboissière Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília – A survey by the Ministry of Health (“Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas por Inquérito Telefônico - Vigitel Brasil 2010”) has found that Brazilians are smoking less but continue to lead sedentary lives. Making matters worse, they do not eat healthy food.

According to the Vigitel Brasil 2010 study, smokers as a percentage of the population fell from 16.2% to 15.1% between 2006 and 2010. However, a breakdown of those numbers by gender shows two different portraits: the percantage of male smokers dropped from 20.2% to 17.9%, while the percentage of female smokers remained steady at 12.7%.

The secretary of Health Institute, Jarbas Barbosa, calls the reduction “slow,” and says the problem of smoking is worse among the less educated. “We have been successful with our advertising campaign, but we can do more,” says the secretary (packs of cigarettes in Brazil carry shocking pictures of diseases smoking can cause).

As for Brazilian eating habits, the study shows people eating less beans (an important source of iron and fiber) and more fatty milk and meat. Rice and beans were once essential items in any meal – but the number of people eating beans has fallen over a five year period from almost 72% to 66%.

Another cause for concern is the consumption of fruit and vegetables. Only 18% of the population eats the required amounts, according to the study.

Finally, Vigitel Brasil 2010 found that the number of Brazilian adults who can be considered sedentary is on the rise. Only 18.6% of adult males, and 11.7% of adult females, practice physical activities regularly.

Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English

Link - Estudo mostra que brasileiro está fumando menos, mas ainda é sedentário e se alimenta mal