Objective

To establish the cardiovascular risk profile and fitness of professors and employees of a faculty of health within a public university.

Materials and Methods

Cross-sectional study with 40 professors and 13 employees who were tested using anthropometry, lipid profile, glycosylated hemoglobin, a 6 minute walking test; two questionnaires on physical activity and barriers to exercise were applied. The cardiovascular risk was calculated for all subjects using the Framingham scale.

Results

51.4 % of professors and 41.7 % of employees had low cardiovascular risk. The average value of BMI for teachers and employees showed low cardiovascular risk; the average BMI value was 25,56 Kg/cm2 ± 3,9 Kg/cm2 and 23,18 Kg/cm2 ± 3,7 Kg/cm2, respectively. The average fat mass was 32 % for professors and 27 % for employees. The average distance walked by professors was 553 ± 226 meters and for employees was 590 ± 187 meters. Both groups showed good flexibility; 49 % of teachers and 77 % of employees had a high level of physical activity according to their IPAQ. The main barriers to physical exercise were lack of time and extra obligations.

Conclusions

Professors and employees of the faculty of health had low cardiovascular risk and high physical activity; this should be considered in the implementation of programs promoting healthy lifestyles and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.