Academia Carioca: 17 years promoting health and quality of life.

The program brings together more than 203 participants and has already benefited more than 1,2 million residents of Rio de Janeiro - Edu Kapps / SMS

The Academia Carioca Program celebrates its 17th anniversary this Wednesday (June 24th) as one of the main strategies of the Unified Health System (SUS) for disease prevention and the promotion of healthy habits. Created by the Rio de Janeiro City Hall in 2009, the program has already transformed the lives of more than 1,2 million users of the Primary Care network. Far beyond encouraging physical exercise, this pioneering strategy strengthens community ties, brings numerous health benefits, and promotes autonomy, especially among the elderly population.

The program's objective is to improve the health indicators of Rio de Janeiro residents by expanding access to supervised physical activity. The strategy is present in 222 Primary Care units (municipal centers and family clinics) and currently has 203 participants, 57% of whom are over 60 years old.

– For 17 years, this program has transformed family clinics and municipal health centers into spaces for meeting, welcoming, and promoting life. Each class represents an opportunity to take care of one's health, but also to create bonds, recover self-esteem, and discover that it's never too late to start. Seeing so many stories of overcoming challenges moves us and reinforces the certainty that investing in good health practices is investing in people – celebrates the program coordinator, Junia Cardoso.

The program currently has 126 Physical Education professionals integrated into the health teams, who develop activities such as walking, stretching, dancing, capoeira, gymnastics, educational actions and collective practices aimed at physical, mental, social and cultural well-being.

The results prove the strategy's effectiveness. Among the participants, 90% showed better blood pressure control, 61% reduced their body weight, and 52% decreased their body mass index, demonstrating the impact of regular physical activity in the prevention and control of chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

Impact that goes beyond the numbers.

Carlos Carvalho, 48, has had hypertension since he was 16 and has been under medical care for a long time. The lawyer learned about the program after a consultation at the Luiz Moraes Júnior Family Clinic in Botafogo, where the healthcare professional identified high levels in his tests and recommended the classes as one of the treatments to maintain his health.

"When I started the program 3 years ago, I weighed 125 kg, had high cholesterol, and my test results weren't good. In six months I lost 20 kg and my levels were already normalized. I lost 40 kg in a year, and the program helped me a lot with that. Today I prefer the Academia Carioca Program to a private gym. I am very grateful to Professor Felipe and my colleagues. I made a great circle of friends there. Today I try to maintain my weight, my healthy diet, and encourage other friends in the program," says Carlos.

Maria de Lourdes Marques, 71, is a resident of Rocinha and has participated in the program for over 14 years. The retired nursing technician exercises three times a week at the Academia Carioca in the Maria do Socorro Family Clinic, but is present every day assisting and serving as an example for other colleagues. She emphasizes that the program entered her life at a difficult time and brought many benefits, improved quality of life, and the possibility of new friendships.

– I started the program to have something to do. Throughout life, you need to have an activity to stay active and avoid getting sick. And the Academia Carioca was perfect; it gives us that support. We socialize, go on outings, do activities on the beach and in the parks. It goes far beyond physical exercise. The contact with people from other areas also broadened my understanding of other realities. I really enjoy being in contact with people and feeling useful. And today I say that this program is my life – says Mrs. Lourdes.