Physical activity: Challenges and opportunities in low- and middle-income countries

This chapter aims to present and discuss physical activity (PA) challenges and opportunities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We propose greater visibility for leisure-time physical activities and for the social inequalities observed at this domain by recognizing the complex and specific context of LMICs and the social determinants of health. We present ethical and practical reasons to address social inequalities in leisure-time PA and improve surveillance at different dimensions of inequalities. In terms of actions, the Brazilian public policies are described to illustrate the potential of interventions in the health sector, capable of prioritizing the groups that need them the most. We emphasize the role of public policies, also considering the challenges of evaluation and implementation.