Physical activity promotion in Latin American populations: A tale of magic realism

Keynote Presentation

Abstract

Summary of Keynote Address: Dr. Sarmiento presented the evaluation of community programs that emerged from the land of Magic Realism, Latin America. She emphasized how magic realism paints a realistic view of the modern world while also adding magical elements. She highlighted how the programs presented all had a part of magic realism from a region full of colour, innovation, contrasts, inequality, and resilience. Dr. Sarmiento discussed how Latin America is a region under rapid urbanization (with 80% living in cities) with great contrasts and challenges with respect to social equality/inequality gaps. Latin America is dense, diverse, and fragmented with a high prevalence of insufficient physical activity. She demonstrated how the IPEN study conducted in Bogota, Cuernavaca, and Uritiba showed that Latin Americans are more active in the streets and parks. In this land of magic realism, Dr. Sarmiento highlighted how there are novel programs that can promote physical activity within parks and on the streets. These programs go beyond traditional systems including the the Ciclovias, Recreativas, or open street programs, cycling infrastructure, community programs in parks to promote PA through dancing, and cable cars integrated to mass transit for transport. All of these programs are aligned with the Global action plan on physical activity 2018–2030 of more active people for a healthier world from WHO. She revealed that these out of the health sector programs have the potential to promote physical activity and impact the well-being of people (women, children, and older adults) and their urban settings. She also discussed how practice-based evidence accelerates more quickly than evidence-based practice. She also argued how evaluation requires mixed methods, and an interdisciplinary research approach, with engagement of citizens (citizen science by the people) and policy actors throughout the design and evaluation process. She highlighted how policy makers have recognized the potential impact of recreation and transport and urban interventions on livability and health​. Dr. Sarmiento emphasized how these studies required national and international networks and multidisciplinary groups with true partnerships between researchers, end users, and community.