Agita São Paulo

Agita São Paulo is a health promotion program launched in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1996 to reach the 80 per cent of people not involved in physical fitness and sports. Agita promotes a goal of at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day, at least five days per week. The program uses a “two hats” approach, working simultaneously with government and NGOs, and spanning the fields of sports, health, education, and environmental and transportation systems. After 10 years of program activities, the number of people rated as “sedentary” and “regularly inactive” has declined. Related data show that this kind of intervention produces cost savings.

Since 2005, Agita has also adopted the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. Matsudo mentioned the Agita Mundo Network, which supports the WHO Global Strategy and involves many countries internationally.