WALK WITH US PROJECT: EFFECTS OF THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROGRAM FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE AMAPÁ STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Abstract

Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and psychological disorders are conditions that significantly impact quality of life and productivity, especially among public servants. This study analyzes the effects of the Walk with Us Project (PROCAC), a program of supervised physical activities offered to employees of the State Department of Education of Amapá (SEED/AP), on the perception of health and quality of life of its participants. The research involved 49 participants, mostly women, with an average age of 48 years. Among them, 40.5% were hypertensive, 29.7% had psychological disorders, 24.3% were obese and 16.2% had diabetes. The results showed that 75% of the participants reported a significant improvement in their quality of life during their participation in the program, and 60.4% attributed a large contribution to training to their overall health. These findings reinforce the role of PROCAC as an effective intervention for the management of chronic conditions and the promotion of physical and emotional well-being, in line with the evidence in the literature on the benefits of supervised exercise. Despite the limitations, such as the collection of data exclusively online, the study highlights the importance of initiatives such as PROCAC in valuing civil servants and in the construction of more inclusive public policies. It is recommended that the program be expanded and future studies be carried out to deepen its impacts.