Background:

Physical activity is a strategy to maintain and preserve the health of the individual.

Objective:

To determine the level of physical activity in health professionals at the first level of care.

Material and methods:

A cross-sectional descriptive design in health personnel was studied in the entire population (n = 280). The level of physical activity was measured with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), uses the units of measurement of the metabolic index (METs) as a reference, identifies three categories, low physical activity (599 METS or less), moderate (600 to 2,999 METS) and high (3,000 METS or more); METS were calculated by type of physical activity, vigorous, moderate, and walking, and the sum of these was identified as the total METS. Statistical analysis included means, percentages, and confidence intervals.

Results:

The average number of minutes per day of walking is 73.98 (95%CI; 62.88-85.09) and the average number of days per week is 5.10 (95% CI; 4.93-5.26). The total number of METS achieved per week is 2,496.08 (95% CI; 2,186.74-2,805.42). Moderate physical activity predominates with 61.8% (95% CI; 56.1-67.5).

Conclusions:

The level of physical activity in health professionals at the first level of care is moderate, without reaching what is established as ideal.

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