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Age at peak height velocity (APHV) is an indicator of maturity timing which is applicable to both sexes, and which is influenced by environmental factors. The objective of this study was to assess variation in APHV associated with several indicators of socioeconomic status (SES) in a longitudinal sample of Polish adolescents. The sample included 739 boys born in 1983 and followed annually from 12 to 16 years, and 597 girls born in 1985 and followed annually from 9 to 13 years. The height records were fitted with the SITAR model to estimate APHV. SES was estimated using principal component analysis of indicators of familial status based on parental education, family size, living conditions and household possessions. Statistical analyses included analysis of variance (one-way for general SES and three-way for parental education and family size) and Tukey post-hoc tests for unequal samples. General SES (p <.001) and family size (p < .05) significantly influenced APHV among boys, while only maternal education (p < .05) significantly influenced APHV among girls. Among youth from families of higher SES, as defined by the respective indicators, APHV was attained significantly earlier, on average, than in peers from families of lower SES. Overall, the results showed a sex-dependent effect of SES on APHV, and highlighted the influence of favorable socioeconomic conditions for optimal growth and maturation during adolescence., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objectives: To assess trends in growth in different developmental periods and trends in developmental tempo in Polish boys between 1966 and 2012., Methods: Data on 34 828 boys aged 7 to 18 years were collected during Polish Anthropological Surveys conducted in 1966, 1978, 1988, and 2012. Biological parameters, related to onset of adolescent growth spurt (OGS) and peak height velocity (PHV), were derived from a Preece-Baines 1 model (PB1). Childhood (height at 7 years of age), pre-adolescent (height at OGS) and adolescent growth (adult height minus height at OGS) were identified., Results: Positive secular trend between 1966 and 2012 in adult height accounted for, on average, 1.5 cm/decade, with varying intensity between the Surveys. Decline in both age at OGS and APHV between 1966 and 2012 (1.5 and 1.4 years, respectively) indicated an acceleration in developmental tempo, on average, by 0.3 year/decade. Increases in the contribution to the trend in adult height gained during growth in particular developmental periods between 1966 and 2012 were as followed-childhood: 0.6%, pre-adolescent growth: -3.1%, adolescent growth: 3.1%., Conclusions: Secular trend in developmental tempo and growth among boys reflects changes in living conditions and socio-political aspirations in Poland during nearly 50 years. Acceleration in tempo is already visible at age at OGS, whereas the trend in adult height occurs largely during adolescence, pointing to different regulation of developmental tempo and growth in body height. This finding emphasizes the importance of extending public health intervention into children's growth up until adolescence., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Aim: To assess secular trend and changes in social inequalities of children's height across nearly 50 years, when vast socio-political changes took place in Poland., Methods: Data on schoolchildren aged 7-18 years were collected in 1966, 1978, 1988 and 2012 in Poland. Height was standardised for age using the LMS method. Socio-economic status (SES) was based on 4 factors: urbanisation level, mother's and father's education, and family size (number of children). Statistics included 2-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey's test and effect size calculations., Results: Positive secular trend in height was observed across all years. All analysed SES factors had significant effect on height which differed depending on SES category and year of Survey. Differences in height between extreme categories of SES factors decreased gradually, starting from 1978. However, only general SES in girls and urbanisation level in both sexes became insignificant in 2012., Conclusion: Improvement of living conditions across nearly 50 years was reflected in the secular trend in children's height. Despite this improvement, however, the biological effects of social inequalities, visible in differences in height, to some extent, are still present in Poland., (©2020 Foundation Acta Paediatrica. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: To estimate secular changes in the body fatness, assessed using the Slaughter equation, in the context of changes in BMI in different developmental periods among Polish schoolchildren studied over nearly 50 years., Methods: Data were collected during Polish Anthropological Surveys (1966, 1978, 1988, 2012). The total random sample consisted of 69,746 schoolchildren, aged 7-18. Three periods of development were identified: childhood, early adolescence, and late adolescence. Raw data of BMI were standardized for age classes. Based on the body fat percentage, calculated using Slaughter equation (involving triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness), fat mass (FM; kg), and then fat mass index (FMI = FM/height 6 ; kg/m 6 ) was assessed to enable comparison between body fatness and BMI. Statistical analyses included two-way ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey's tests., Results: In boys, in terms of changes per decade, between 1966 and 2012 acceleration in Z-BMI and deceleration in FMI were found, irrespective of developmental period. Regarding girls, deceleration of trend was found in terms of both features, with different intensity, depending on developmental period and year of study. The pattern of changes in FMI depending on developmental period was, to some extent, similar for both sexes., Conclusions: Slaughter equation for abovementioned two skinfolds, as a method of body fatness assessment, might be a useful tool for research on boys across different developmental periods, but not on girls. Moreover, it should be used with caution when applied to secular changes in adiposity in both sexes, since the distribution of fat tissue varies across ontogenesis, but also over generations.

Background: Environmental pollutions with heavy metals may have toxic effects on human health and development. One of the most detrimental is lead exposure, which may disturb neurodevelopment and linear growth in children. However, data on the effect of lead exposure on nutritional and weight status in children are limited, thus this study aimed to assess the effect of blood lead (Pb) level on nutritional and weight status in preadolescent schoolchildren from the industrialized, mining region in southwestern Poland., Methods: Our study sample involved N = 709 schoolchildren (402 boys and 307 girls) in the preadolescent developmental period (7-11 years of age for boys and 7-10 years of age for girls). Anthropometric measurements were used to assess nutritional and weight status: body mass index (BMI), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and skinfolds thicknesses (triceps, subscapular, abdominal and the sum of skinfolds). Blood Pb level was evaluated and divided into two groups: above (>3.7 μg/dL) and below median value (≤3.7 μg/dL)., Results: Analysis of covariance (with children's age controlled as a covariate) revealed that children with blood Pb level above median value had significantly lower values of BMI, MUAC and all skinfolds (at least p < 0.01). However, this effect was significant only in boys, whereas in girls differences were non-significant (p > 0.05). The highest effect size of blood Pb level was noted for skinfolds thicknesses (partial η 2 : 0.015 for the sum of skinfolds)., Conclusions: Nutritional status in children with higher blood Pb level is significantly impaired in preadolescent boys, who appear to be more sensitive to this environmental factor. Our findings indicate a particular need for nutritional and environmental interventions among preadolescent children in regions with higher lead exposure., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of this study was an assessment of the effects of urbanisation level, family size and parental education on body mass index (BMI) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) among Polish schoolchildren in cross-sectional surveys conducted between 1966 and 2012., Design: The analysis involved schoolchildren measured in four Polish Anthropological Surveys (1966, 1978, 1988 and 2012). Socio-economic factors involved: urbanisation level (city, town and village), family size (one child, two children, three children, four or more children), and father's and mother's education (lower and higher education)., Setting: Regions in Poland - cities: Warsaw, Lodz and Wroclaw; towns: Bystrzyca Klodzka, Pinczow, Siemiatycze, Wolsztyn and their rural surroundings., Participants: A total sample consisted of 63 757 children (31 774 boys and 31 983 girls) aged 7-18 years., Results: Between 1966 and 1988, both BMI and MUAC had significantly higher values in children from cities, in families with one child and with higher parental education (P < 0·05). However, MUAC revealed significant differences between particular socio-economic groups more frequently than BMI. In 2012, urbanisation level and parental education ceased to show a differentiating effect on both indicators, while family size remained a significant social factor for both measures (BMI: P < 0·05; MUAC: P < 0·01)., Conclusions: Since MUAC reflected socio-economic differences more frequently than BMI, it could be a more sensitive and reliable anthropometric measure revealing the effects of socio-economic factors on children's nutritional status.

Background/objectives: Biological indicators of children's growth, such as the mean values for both height and weight, are often used as markers of change in living conditions. However, little is known about how the quality of life affects the variation in height and weight. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the variation in height and body mass index (BMI) in Polish children between 1966 and 2012. During this period, Poland underwent vast political and socioeconomic changes.Subjects/methods: The study included 5597 boys and 5479 girls aged 7-8 years of age. Socioeconomic status (SES) was defined in three categories: high, medium and low.Results: Between 1966 and 2012, the mean values for height and BMI significantly increased in both sexes (P<0.001). The variation of these two parameters, however, showed a different pattern. Whereas the variation in Z-values for height remained unchanged in both sexes, the variation in BMI increased in boys (P<0.01) but not in girls. SES affected the variation in Z-BMI in 1978 in both sexes (P<0.001), whereas variation in Z-height between SES categories remained unchanged across all years of surveys in boys. Before the political transformation, significant regional differences were observed in the variances of Z-BMI (P<0.05) but not of Z-height. This pattern changed after the political transformation, when regional differences in variances of Z-BMI disappeared.Conclusions: It is concluded that the mean values and the variation of BMI are affected by a changing quality of life, whereas the variation in height is usually independent of living conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intergenerational changes in many biological traits are indicators of environmental conditions. One of such anthropometric measures is the mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) which estimates nutritional status. Likewise, Body Mass Index (BMI) is widely used as an anthropometric indicator of relative weight. The aim of this study was to reveal secular trends in MUAC and BMI, as biological indicators of changing living conditions, between 1966 and 2012 among Polish children from different socioeconomic groups. Total sample involved 64 393 schoolchildren aged 7-18 years, investigated in 4 Surveys (1966, 1978, 1988, 2012). Overall socioeconomic status (SES) was divided into two categories: lower and higher (including: urbanization, family size, parental education). Results showed that MUAC and BMI differed significantly with respect to the year of survey, sex and SES category. Both measures were higher within higher SES group compared to the lower one until 1988, while in 2012 convergence of these indicators in both SES categories was observed. Both the year of survey, sex, SES category and interactions between them had higher impact on MUAC than BMI (measured by effect size). Our findings revealed that long-term socioeconomic changes affect MUAC more noticeably than BMI. Therefore MUAC may be a more accurate screening tool.

Background: Growth in tibia length is considered to be particularly sensitive to environmental stress., Aim: To estimate the effect of parental migration status on the relative length of the tibia in their school-age children., Subjects and Methods: Data included a nationwide random sample of 17,155 schoolchildren, 7-18 years of age, examined between 1966 and 1969 in Poland who provided information on anthropometric measurements and demographic and social characteristics. Parental migration status was based on paternal migration history. After standardisation by LMS method, z-scores of relative tibia length and z-scores of height were used for analysis. Three-way ANOVA was used to evaluate the influence of migration on tibia length-to-height ratio., Results: Sons of migrants have a significantly higher tibia length-to-height ratio compared to sons of non-migrants. Children of non-migrants were taller than children of migrants among boys in medium SES and among girls in high and low SES. Relative tibia length indicated significant effects of migration among boys in all age categories and in late adolescent girls: sons of migrants had a higher ratio and daughters of migrants had a lower tibia length-to-height ratio., Conclusion: It is possible that migration experiences of the parents may have influenced the growth of their offspring. The results emphasise the potential importance of research addressing the impact of different types of migration on growth of children.

Background: The onset age of physiological puberty is greatly variable. This variability has been attributed to environmental factors and to genetic factors although a very little is explained by genome-wide associations studies. Previously, we reported the existence of an association between the onset age of puberty and final height. It is known that final height is associated with parental height (specifically, with the "target height"). We hypothesized that the variability of the onset age of puberty contributes to the attainment of a final height which is similar to the target height. We hypothesized that whenever a child's height-percentile differs from the target height percentile (we called this difference the "height gap"), the onset of puberty is advanced or delayed so that they are closer or even equal at the end of pubertal growth. The association between height gap and onset age of puberty was investigated in the reported study., Methods: The study is an observational retrospective study on growth during puberty in 170 Israeli (60 girls) and 335 Polish children (162 girls). Anthropometric measurements were analyzed by multivariable linear regression with the onset age of the pubertal growth spurt (PGS) as the dependent variable, and two independent variables "height gap" and body mass index (BMI)-both standardized., Results: The adjusted coefficient of determination (adj R2) between the onset age of the PGS and the two independent variables was 0.69 (Israeli girls), 0.50 (Israeli boys, BMI excluded), 0.25 (Polish girls) and 0.13 (Polish boys). A prediction model for the onset age of puberty is presented., Conclusions: The association between the "height gap" and the onset age of puberty suggests that the variability of this age is part of the targeted process of statural growth. The proposed model may explain idiopathic cases of precocious and delayed puberty., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Objectives: To describe the biological results of the political and economic transformations that took place in Poland between 1966 and 2012, based on an analysis of age at menarche, and to determine changes across social groups., Methods: Data were collected in 1966, 1978, 1988, and 2012 in several districts of Poland. The study included 34,940 schoolgirls. Age at menarche was assessed with the use of status quo method. Definition of socioeconomic status was based on 4 factors: urbanization level, mother and father education, and family size., Results: When the political and economic situation in Poland improved, a decrease in age at menarche was observed, whereas in years of crisis it increased. The same social differentiation in menarcheal age observed before the political transformation continued to be present in 2012., Discussion: Socioeconomic changes were significantly associated with age at menarche. Social inequalities, reflected in menarcheal age, continue to be present in Poland., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: The relationship between intrauterine growth retardation and sexual maturation has not been completely established. The aim of the present study was to compare menarche in 14-year-old Polish girls of low and normal birthweight, along with an evaluation of the impact of socio-economic status and body mass index (BMI).Methods: We studied 1060 girls (177 pre- and 883 post-menarche) aged 13.5-14.5 years. These girls attended the 7th grade of randomly selected primary schools in Wroclaw, Poland. The BMI was used as a measurement of general adiposity. The cut-off value of the 10th percentile of birthweight for gestational age was used to differentiate between girls born small for gestational age (SGA) and girls with a birthweight appropriate to gestational age (AGA). Parental education level and other measures were used to assess socio-economic status (SES).Results: Birthweight (OR = 2.54; 95% CI 1.22-5.28) and BMI at the age of 14 years (OR = 7.93; 95%CI 4.67-13.48) were factors affecting the onset of menarche among the 14-year-old girls.Conclusion: Polish girls born small for gestational age are more likely to have experienced menarche by the age of 14 years, compared with their peers of normal weight at birth. These findings seem to be consistent with the hypothesis that the age of menarche is, to some extent, set by patterns of gonadotropin release, established prior to birth. Additionally, the age of menarche varies depending on levels of fat accumulation during childhood and adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to reveal the secular trends in body mass index (BMI) and the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Polish schoolchildren between the years 1966-2012, during which intense socio-political changes took place. Four surveys were conducted in several districts of Poland looking at 69,746 schoolchildren aged 7-18. Significant increase in mean BMI as well as in the prevalence of overweight and obesity was observed. During this time the highest increase in both mean BMI and excess weight was observed between 1988 and 2012, i.e. after the political transformation, resulting in the improvement of living conditions. However, with respect to girls in late adolescence, between these years, the mean BMI as well as the prevalence of overweight were leveling off, while the percentage of boys with excess body fat in the same developmental category significantly increased in 2012. In the years 1966-1978 and 1978-1988 the pattern of changes in the prevalence of overweight and obesity reflected the social and economic circumstances, i.e. temporary economic improvements, or deepening political crises and food shortage. In conclusion, the weight status of schoolchildren strongly reflects socio-political changes that took place in Poland, as well as in most of the Central European countries in the last half century., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Age at menarche is one of the most important measures of sexual maturation in girls. Since it has a high level of ecosensitivity, early environmental stress may trigger early puberty. One of these stress factors may be parental stress caused by the change of living conditions related to migration and adaptation to the new environment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between parental migration status and the timing of sexual maturity in second generation, i.e. migrants' daughters. Data were collected during the 2(nd) Polish Anthropological Survey carried out in 1966 - 1969. The information on age at menarche as well as demographic and social characteristics were collected by the use of a questionnaire. The results show that the age at menarche has been accelerated in girls from low socioeconomic status (low-SES) migrant families in comparison to low-SES non-migrant families. This study provides new biosocial evidence on the impact of the parental long-lasting post-migration adaptation on the timing of maturation in the second generation of migrants.

This work presents results of studies on secondary school adolescents inhabiting two regions of Warsaw: Sródmiescie district (Downtown) and Miedzylesie (Wawer district - Vicinity), conducted in 2006. These two districts significantly differ according to air pollution, which is much higher in Downtown than in Vicinity. The sample consists of 219 boys and 225 girls aged 13-16 years. The measurements included body height and weight and 8 respiratory variables of lung function: VC, FEV1, TV, MV, IRV, ERV, Ap, RR. Additionally information about education of parents, number of children in family, number of rooms in a house/apartment, smoking habits of pupils and their parents were provided. Sib-sib size, parents education level and number of rooms in apartment or house were included in a principal component analysis (PCA) to obtain a common factor representing general socio-economic status (SES) for families. First factor scores were used as covariates in the further analysis. The influence of air pollution on respiratory variables was evaluated using the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The results show that there are significant relations of air pollution to Ap, MV and IRV and smoking habits of individuals on their MV and TV. In the heavier polluted region there are observed longer time of Ap and higher values of IRV There is an opposite reaction of MV on air pollution and smoking. The MV values are lower in the heavier polluted area but presents greater values in smoking individuals. Also values of TV are greater if individuals smoke comparing with non smokers.

Body Mass Index (BMI) and skinfolds are common indicators of adiposity. Many studies have shown relationships between the BMI in childhood and adolescence and the BMI in adulthood. Similar correlations were observed for the skinfolds, although they tend to be lower. The aim of this study was to estimate changes with age in the genetic variance and heritability of the BMI and skinfolds among Polish twins born between 1959 and 1965. Observations involved male and female monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins, who were measured annually between 8 and 18 years of age. Body Mass Index and skinfold thicknesses at the triceps (TSF), subscapular (SSF) and suprailiac (SIF) sites were measured. Genetic variance and heritability were estimated for individual skinfold thicknesses, the sum of three skinfolds (SUMSF) and BM, separately by age classes for both sexes. Intraclass correlations were significantly higher for MZ twins than for DZ twins in both sexes and across all ages. Heritability estimates were significant for all indicators of adiposity, but varied with age and had different ranges for boys and girls. Estimates of genetic variance were significant for all indicators of adiposity and were higher for girls than for boys.

In modern societies, there are regular social gradients in most health parameters, and also in the structure of morbidity and mortality. However, the significance of inter-generation social mobility for general health status still remains equivocal. This study was therefore performed in order to compare the effect of social mobility on coronary heart disease (CHD) risk between middle-aged Polish men and women. A total of 342 men and 458 women, aged 40 and 50 and inhabitants of Wrocław, were examined. Risk of CHD was estimated using the Framingham Risk Score (FRS), calculated for each individual. Social mobility was defined as an inter-generation change in social status expressed as educational level between the examined individual and his/her father. Using two-variable regression models, it was demonstrated that FRS in men was determined by both their father's education level (beta=0.33, p<0.0001) and inter-generation change in educational status (beta=0.18, p=0.008). In contrast, FRS in women was related only to their father's education level (beta=0.35, p<0.0001), but not to inter-generation social mobility (beta=0.35, p=0.25). In particular, an incremental change in educational level among those men whose father had finished primary school at the very most or among those whose father had finished basic trade school was accompanied by a significant decrease in FRS (F=4.12, p=0.009 and F=3.25, p=0.04, respectively). It is concluded that inter-generation social mobility modifies CHD risk (as estimated using FRS) in middle-aged Polish men, but not in women. The precise mechanisms responsible for the observed sex difference in this phenomenon need to be established in further studies.

Human migration and its economic, social, and demographic effects can lead to health consequences for individuals and populations. In the present study, we estimated differences in health status between migrant (those who had come to Wrocław at the age of > or =16 years) and nonmigrant (those who had lived in Wrocław since birth or had come with their parents) inhabitants of Wrocław, Poland. Three hundred and sixty seven males and 496 females aged 40 and 50 underwent medical examination, and were asked to fill out a questionnaire comprising social, demographic, and life style information. Health status was assessed by blood pressure, heart rate, fasting lipid profile, glucose, height, and measures of fatness (BMI, WHR, sum of skinfolds). Comparisons were made based on Borkan's and Norris's profiles. Student's t-test showed significant differences in diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, total cholesterol, and glucose levels between two groups of males, in favor of migrants. Male migrants were also significantly taller than their peers born in Wrocław. In females, migrants had significantly lower blood pressure and heart rate than nonmigrants. In interpreting the results two possible, not mutually exclusive, mechanisms are proposed: selective spatial mobility, and changes toward healthier life style as an adaptation to new urban environment.

The aim of this study is to examine changes in prevalence of overweight and obesity, using International Obesity Task Force criteria, in three cohorts of children and youth living in Cracow, Poland, in 1971, 1983 and 2000. Rates of overweight and obesity doubled among boys and girls, from 7.5% and 6.5% in 1971, to 15.2% and 11.8% in the year 2000. The greatest increases in prevalence occurred in the youngest age groups (7-12 years for boys and 7-10 years for girls), increases being less extensive among adolescents, and lowest of all in the oldest age groups (16-18 years in boys and 14-18 years in girls). The absence of a positive secular trend in BMI among adolescent females relative to males may be due to sociocultural pressures associated with transition to a free market economy in Poland. The extent to which girls attempt to achieve the ideal body, as portrayed by media and society more generally, increases across adolescence.

The main aim of this study was to examine changes in relative weight and prevalence of obesity across a ten-year period among 14-year-old boys according to parental education level. Data from two surveys, carried out in 1987 and 1997, of boys attending the 7th grade of primary schools in Wrocław were used in the analysis. The heights and weights of 3165 boys aged 14 years selected from cohort of 6969 7th and 8th grade boys from all primary schools of the city Wrocław were used. The data of the second sample of 14-year-old boys (n = 1014) were obtained from a health examination study carried out in the Silesian Centre for Preventive Medicine, 'DOLMED', in Wrocław in 1997. All boys attended the 7th grade of 34 randomly selected primary schools from a total of 129 schools in the city of Wrocław. Social status was assessed on the basis of parental education level scored to four categories: university, secondary school, trade school, and elementary school. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was defined as the percentage of children above the 85th and 95th percentiles of the body mass index (BMI), the means of which were 21.27 and 23.75 kg/m2 respectively. Prevalence of overweight among boys is slightly lower in the 1997 sample, whereas the prevalence of obesity shows the opposite trend and is higher by more than one percent in comparison with the 1987 sample. Similar trends of declining medians and increasing variance are observed in all educational groups. The differences in medians between the two samples within educational groups did not achieve statistical significance for the groups with parents with education at elementary level and fathers with university education. There is a trend toward increasing prevalence of obesity across the decade considered, according to father's education level. With respect to mother's education levels, the most dramatic changes in BMI and obesity occurred in the elementary education group, where the percentage of obese subjects increased more than twofold. A significant increase is also observed in the group with parents attaining university education.

On the one hand, the number of individuals with excess body weight is increasing, while on the other, the issue of malnutrition among adolescents is becoming increasingly noticeable. Aim: To determine differences in the magnitude of secular trends in height and body mass, BMI, and the occurrence of underweight, normal weight-to-height proportions, overweight, and obesity in adolescents. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted from 2006 to 2021. Height and body mass were measured, and BMI was calculated. The results were statistically analyzed. Results: In the examined girls and boys in the decade from 2006 to 2016, a slowdown in height growth and slight positive changes in body mass and BMI were observed. The results from 2016 to 2021 confirmed a continued trend of increasing somatic characteristics, mainly body mass. Considering the BMI value in both observation periods, a slight decrease in the frequency of underweight and normal BMI was noted in all groups, while a significant increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity was observed. Conclusions: The temporal trends presented in this study emphasize the need for regular monitoring of the development of adolescents in eastern Poland, as well as the implementation of proactive public health strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The recognition of the importance of effective communication in the healthcare system has been growing. Given that communication courses must be adjusted to the specificity of a particular culture, language, and other contextual issues, many countries and communities sharing a common language have proposed their recommendations for a communication curriculum for undergraduate medical education. To date, no recommendations have been developed for either any Central and Eastern Europe countries or for regions where Slavic languages are spoken. Their specificity of post-communist transformation should be acknowledged. This study aims to review communication curriculums and offer recommendations for medical communication training for undergraduate medical students in Poland. Methods: The recommendations were developed through an iterative consultation process with lecturers, faculty members of medical schools, and education coordinators. PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched to identify full text English and Polish language articles on communication curriculum for undergraduate medical education. Additionally, the new Regulation of the Polish Minister of Science and Higher Education, defining educational standards for undergraduate medical education was analysed in search of learning outcomes that could be applied in communication skills teaching. The authors extracted the most relevant communication skill competencies, as determined by the process participants, discussed current challenges, including those of the COVID-19 pandemic era, and indicated best practices. Results: A review was conducted, and a set of recommendations was developed pertaining to the scope and methodology of teaching communication skills. The study included: (1) definition, (2) education content, (3) learning outcomes, (4) the recommended teaching methods. The recommendations are in concord with the graduate profile, as well as the current structure of medical studies. The authors listed and discussed the basic communication competencies expected of medical graduates, as well as medical communication course content viewed from different perspectives, including clinical, psychological, sociological, legal, and linguistic. Conclusions: Detailed recommendations aimed at integrating best practices into a comprehensive communication curriculum may promote successful teaching, learning, and assessment of medical communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to the verification of the Trivers-Willard hypothesis (TWH). Based on the TWH, observed sex (male-to-female) ratio at birth in a population is presumed to decline when parents experience economic stress. The empirical evidence so far is mixed. The research material consisted of data on the total numbers of live male and female births in the Polish population in the years 1995-2020. The data were used to produce semiannual time series for secondary sex ratio (SSR), and the sex ratio at birth (SRB). The variable describing the economic stress of households was percentage change in private consumption. The statistical method proposed by Catalano and Bruckner - expanded to include additional statistical analyses - was applied to retest the economic stress hypothesis. The analysis led to complementary ARMAX models, explaining SSR or SRB variance based on autoregression and the moving average process, as well as private consumption. The results indicate that periods of decreasing consumption favored mothers having daughters, while periods of increasing consumption favored mothers having sons. The number of "additional" male births resulting from improved economic conditions was calculated for the period of study. Consequently, the economic factor was shown to have a positive effect on the human sex ratio. At the same time, it should be noted that SSR and SRB reaction lags to consumption changes were different for Łódzkie Province (one year) and for Poland (two years). The obtained results led to the "correct" verification of the Trivers-Willard hypothesis (TWH): economic stress affected the SSR and SRB in Poland. Both SSR and SRB were useful in analyzing economic stress (a dual solution). The use of a greater density of data points was shown to improve analysis effects and increase the likelihood of a "positive" verification of the economic stress hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Bone mineral density (BMD) and frame size are important predictors of future bone health, with smaller frame size and lower BMD associated with higher risk of later fragility fractures. We test the effects of body size, habitual use, and life history on frame size and cortical BMD of the radius and tibia in sample of healthy adult premenopausal women., Methods: We used anthropometry and life history data from 123 women (age 18-46) from rural Poland. Standard techniques were used to measure height, weight, and body fat. Life history factors were recorded using surveys. Grip strength was measured as a proxy for habitual activity, wrist breadth for skeletal frame size. Cortical BMD was measured at the one-third distal point of the radius and mid-point of the tibia using quantitative ultrasound (reported as speed of sound, SoS)., Results: Radial SoS was high (mean t-score 3.2 ± 1.6), but tibia SoS was average (mean t-score 0.35 ± 1.17). SoS was not associated with age, although wrist breadth was positively associated with age after adjusting for height. Radius SoS was not associated with measures of body size, habitual use, or life history factors. Wrist breadth was associated with body size (p < .05 for all), lean mass, and grip strength. Tibia SoS was associated with height. Life history factors were not associated with frame size or cortical SoS., Conclusions: Habitual use and overall body size are more strongly associated with frame size and cortical SoS than life history factors in this sample of healthy adult women., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

(1) Background: Within the last 30 years, growing rates of child overweight and obesity have been observed as a very concerning phenomenon in most countries worldwide. The research aim was to assess what effect increased physical activity has on reducing body mass and adipose tissue in children between 10 and 11 years of age as well as to answer the question of whether physical activity could be considered as a factor in preventing child overweight and obesity when maintaining their existing diet and lifestyle. (2) Material and methods: There were 419 sports class primary school pupils in the experimental group who, in addition to four obligatory weekly physical education hours, attended six training hours. The control group comprised 485 children from parallel non-sports classes. In all pupils, height and weight measurements as well as physical fitness measurements were taken twice, at the beginning and end of the school year. Cole's method was used to assess the children's normal body weight. With the help of this method, children with excessive body weight were selected from the entire study group (N = 904), who additionally had skinfolds and adipose tissue measured using the BIA electrical bioimpedance method. The obtained results were interpreted using the variance analysis for repeated measurements and LSD test. (3) Results: The number of children with excessive body mass after 10 months of increased physical activity decreased (in the case of overweight: p = 0.0014, obesity: p = 0.0022), as did their skinfolds (p ≤ 0.001) and body fat (p ≤ 0.001), while their physical fitness considerably improved compared to the control group. (4) Conclusions: The introduction of increased physical activity in the experimental group children when maintaining their existing diet and lifestyle contributed to reducing their obesity and overweight and, at the same time, proved to be an effective factor in the process of decreasing their excessive body mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To analyze the correlation between anthropometric cardiometabolic risk factors with calf adiposity in 4–16‐year‐olds from Poland. Methods: Three thousand seventy‐six persons (1568 girls and 1508 boys) were examined. Analyzed characteristics included body height, waist, hips and neck circumferences, body weight, six skinfolds. The following were calculated: body mass index (BMI), waist‐to‐hips ratio (WHR), the sum of all skinfolds, and the sum of skinfolds on the waist area. Results: The relationship between the calf skinfold and the rest of the characteristics was estimated using multiple regression. There was a negative relationship between calf adiposity and fat tissue accumulated around the waist and the BMI (in some groups). This suggests that participants with greater calf adiposity had lower waist adiposity and BMI than those with less fat tissue on the lower limb. Conclusion: Persons with higher calf adiposity may have a lower cardiometabolic risk. This observation is significant because cardiovascular risk factors can persist from childhood into adulthood. Additionally, cardiovascular issues have numerous medical consequences but also socio‐economic ones, thus they can affect individuals and be a burden on public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollutions, particularly toxic elements such as lead, are among the most significant factors affecting the growth and functional development of children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of blood lead levels on handgrip strength (HGS) in urban children resident in the Copper Basin of Lower Silesia, Poland, controlling for the effects of chronological age, body size and socioeconomic status. The study included 165 boys (9–11 years of age) and 79 girls (9–10 years of age) from Polkowice town. Anthropometric measurements involved height, body mass and grip strength of the left and right hands. Maternal education was a proxy for socioeconomic status. Based on the median value of blood lead level (3.10 µg/dL), the two groups-below and above/equal median value-were defined. Analysis of covariance revealed that age (all p < 0.001), sex (at least p < 0.01), BMI (all p < 0.001), and blood lead level (at least p < 0.05) had a significant effect on the three indicators of HGS (right hand, left hand, average), while the level of maternal education did not significantly affect HGS (p > 0.05). The results of this study indicate a potentially negative effect of elevated blood lead level on grip strength in preadolescent children, irrespective of sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Lead is an environmental pollutant that negatively affects human growth, development and health. However, research into its effect on age at menarche (first menstruation), a proxy for maturation, is, to some extent, inconclusive. In this study, we identified that lower than currently acceptable blood lead level was related to later menarche. However, body weight and fatness had a moderating effect on this relationship, decreasing its significance. Lead negatively affects human growth and development. In this research, we aimed to assess the effect of elevated blood lead level on age at menarche (AM), controlling for body mass index (BMI) and estimated fatness. The sample included 490 girls aged 7–16 examined in Polkowice town (Copper Basin, Poland) in 2008. Measurements included height, weight, skinfold thicknesses and estimated percentage of body fat. AM was assessed using the status quo method. Blood samples were taken for lead level assessment. Two groups were defined based on the median blood lead level for the total sample of children (3.7 µg/dL). Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between AM and independent variables. The results indicated that menarche in the higher blood lead level group was significantly later compared to the lower blood lead level group (p < 0.01). This relationship remained only marginally significant when BMI (p < 0.10), sum of skinfolds (p < 0.09) or percentage of fat (p < 0.08) were controlled. The results revealed that a lower blood lead level (3.7 µg/dL) than the currently acceptable threshold (5 µg/dL) is related to a later AM; however, this relationship is moderated by body fatness, which may decrease its significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are one of the main health care problems in both Poland and in other countries. There are limited studies on the physical growth and body composition among children and adolescents with ASD. Several studies have indicated that the prevalence of unhealthy weight is high among autistic patients. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity of Polish boys with ASD and to analyse body composition. A cross-sectional study was performed on 29 Polish boys aged 3–11 with autism. Anthropometric measurements were taken. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) was used to evaluate body composition. The percentile values and z-scores for body height, body weight and BMI were calculated. The CDC cut–points were used to determine weight status. Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. 16.1% autistic boys had z-scores for body weight above two standard deviations, 12.9% had z-scores for body height above two standard deviations and z-scores for BMI above two standard deviations were found in 19.4% of the boys. 13.8% of autistic boys were underweight, 48.3% had healthy weight, 20.7% were overweight, and 17.2% were obese. The mean value of body fat percentage was 18.46%, and 16.1% of the boys with ASD had higher than normal fat tissue. There is a high prevalence of overweight and obesity among Polish boys with autism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies in team sports have not reported evidence regarding the relative age effect (RAE) in relation to the talent identification (TI) process in volleyball, which is organized and controlled by a national federation. Volleyball is a non-contact team sport in which a player's physique does not directly affect other players in the game but is considered one of the most critical factors in the TI process. The aims of the present study were (1) to determine the differences in the quarterly distribution of age between Polish youth volleyball players from the Olympic Hopes Tournament (OHT) and the general population, (2) to investigate the quarterly differences in anthropometric characteristics and motor test results in OHT participants, and (3) to identify the criteria that determine selection for the National Volleyball Development Program (NVDP). The present study identified the RAE in young male (n = 2,528) and female (n = 2,441) Polish volleyball players between 14 and 15 years of age who competed in the elite OHT in 2004–2015. The study included anthropometric characteristics, motor test results, and selection for the NVDP. The multivariate analysis of covariance demonstrated no significant main effect for birth quarter or calendar age in any of the OHT female players or in male players selected for the NVDP. In the group of non-selected NVDP male players, the analysis demonstrated significant differences by birth quarter as a covariate for body height (F = 0.01, p < 0.001), spike reach (F = 7.33, p < 0.05), and block jump (F = 0.02, p < 0.001). Significant differences by calendar age as a covariate were observed for body mass (F = 0.53, p < 0.01), spike jump (F = 2.64, p < 0.05), block jump (F = 0.4, p < 0.01), and zigzag agility test results (F = 0.01, p < 0.01). The results showed a significant overrepresentation of early-born participants in the OHT and NVDP subsamples. The classification model demonstrated that a combination of four characteristics optimally discriminated between players selected for the NVDP and those who were not selected. This combination of variables correctly classified 77.7% of the female players and 71.8% of the male players in terms of their selection for the NVDP. The results of this study show that jumping ability and body height are crucial in the TI and selection process in youth volleyball. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The onset of the menopause entails numerous changes, both physical and mental, in the functioning of the bodies of women. Moreover, the early menopause increases the risk of occurrence of many civilization-related diseases. Major factors contributing to health deficits include lowered bone mineral density and sarcopenia, which can result in serious functional limitations and the acceleration of ageing processes in the body. The aim of this study was to determine how the menopause onset age is linked with bone mineral density and the strength of selected muscles of the limbs and the trunk. Material and Methods. 756 women aged 50-80 years were subjected to tests. The subjects were divided into three groups: (I) from 50 to 59 years, (II) from 60 to 69 years, and (III) from 70 to 79 years. Each of the women specified the age when her final menstrual period occurred. On this basis, groups of women with (1) the early menopause—before the 50th year of life—and (2) with the late menopause—after the 50th year of life—were distinguished. Bone mineral density (BMD), dominant hand grip strength, knee extensor and flexor strength, and functional upper and lower body muscle strength were determined in each of the women. Results. The test results indicate differences in levels of muscle strength and BMD between the 50-year-old early- and late-menopausal women. The late-menopausal women score better motor ability test results and higher BMD values. The differences decrease in the groups of 60-year-old women, whereas the 70-year-old early- and late-menopausal women score similar results. Conclusions. A higher percentage of women with a lowered bone mass and a lower strength level was found in the group of early-menopausal subjects. The rate of decline in hand grip strength, the functional efficiency of the upper and lower limbs, and BMD is faster in the late-menopausal women, whereby the two groups of 70-year-old women score similar test results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Age at menarche in Poland has varied with political and socioeconomic changes. An increase in age at menarche corresponded to a period of economic crisis and food rationing between 1976 and 1989. Experiencing food shortages in utero or during childhood development can affect menarcheal timing, but this national effect may be buffered in local agrarian regions growing their own food. Here we examine patterns of age at menarche over time in the rural, agrarian Beskid Wyspowy region of southern Poland. Methods: This study examined menarcheal timing using data collected from Polish women (n = 1326) recruited at the Mogielica Human Ecology Study Site between 2003 and 2018. Simple linear regressions were used to assess changing ages at menarche over time. Comparisons between ages at menarche for women born before and after the fall of communism in 1989 were assessed via one‐way analysis of variance. Results: Age at menarche has declined over time in the Beskid Wyspowy region of southern Poland from 1920 to 2000 (R2 =.08, P <.0001). There was not a statistically significant increase or decrease in age at menarche for women born and growing up during the period of food rationing. Conclusions: The declining age at menarche is likely reflective of a transitioning environment, suggesting that major socioeconomic changes affect life history traits like pubertal timing. Living in agricultural regions may have helped buffer the increasing ages at menarche seen in other areas of Poland during times of food rationing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the occurrence and pace of secular trends regarding body height, weight, and Body Mass Index (BMI) among children and adolescents from Kraków (Poland) examined in 1983, 2000, 2010, and 2020., Methods: The study group consisted of 17 407 individuals (8650 girls and 8757 boys) aged 3-18 included in four cross-sectional studies conducted in 1983, 2000, 2010, and 2020.Analyzed anthropometric characteristics included body height (measured according to Martin's technique, with an anthropometer) and body weight. BMI was calculated as follows: body weight (kg)/body height 2 (m)., Results: Results of the current study suggest that there was a cessation of previously observed secular increase of the body height in the examined population in the recent decade. Additionally, secular changes regarding body height, body mass, and BMI occurred noticeably slower in the recent decade compared to the previous years., Conclusions: In conclusion, the rapid increase of body height in the years 1983-2000 and later secular increase of the body mass and BMI in 2000-2010 were probably associated mainly with significant socio-economic progress of the country. On the other hand, deceleration of those trends in 2010-2020, especially in regards to body height, may be associated with reaching the maximum genetically attainable body height in the examined population., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objectives: Waist circumference and derived indicators are great for measuring the risk of abdominal obesity. The main aim of the study was to assess the changes in the waist, hips circumferences and selected associated indicators, among preschool children (3-7 years of age) from Kraków, Poland, between 1983, 2008 and 2018., Methods: The research was conducted in randomly selected kindergarten in Krakow (Poland). The 1983 cohort consisted of 1414 children and the 2008 and 2018 series included 1050 preschoolers each. Analyzed characteristics included waist and hip circumferences, body height, waist-to-hips ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR)., Results: There was a negative secular trend regarding circumferences of the hips and waist, as well as WHtR. In girls, WHR was, the greatest in the 2018 cohort, while among boys there was a secular increase in the value of this parameter compared to the 2008 cohort, but not to the 1983 series., Conclusions: The coexistence of currently noted trends with the previously described secular decrease in the prevalence of overweight/obesity and increase in trunk adiposity in the same population, suggests that WHR is preferable to body mass index in assessing the risk associated with excess adiposity in the population examined in the presented study., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective. The study examines relationships between physical activity levels and income status of working-age city residents. Methods. The study was carried out in the years 2014 and 2015 in Wrocław, Poland. The study sample comprised 4332 participants (2276 women; 2056 men) aged 18 to 64 years. Respondents’ habitual physical activity levels were measured with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF), while their income status was assessed with author’s own Socio-Economic Status of Working-Age People Questionnaire (S-ESQ). Results. The results revealed positive correlations between the level of physical activity and income status of male and female working-age residents of Wrocław. The highest physical activity levels were noted among respondents with a steady income, as well as among respondents with the highest income and savings and with no debts. The odds for respondents’ above average physical activity levels were the greatest in women with the highest income and with savings and in debt-free men and women. Conclusion. Effective actions should be developed aimed at improvement of physical activity levels of people in an adverse financial situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated secular trends of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in Polish schoolchildren examined through a period of almost 50 years. Data on height, weight and WC came from four cross-sectional surveys conducted in Poland between 1966 and 2012, covering 34,005 boys and 34,008 girls. Raw data of BMI and WC were standardized for age classes. Statistical analyses included the Kruskal-Willis test and Pearson Chi-square test. BMI and WC increased during the studied period; however, the growth was higher for WC (increase by 0.56 and 0.44 SD scores for BMI and 1.05 and 0.77 SD scores for WC in boys and girls, respectively). In boys, secular changes in BMI and WC were similar across childhood, early and late adolescence, while in girls they differed, indicating change in the type of adipose tissue distribution to a more central one in late adolescent girls.Conclusion: During 46 years, there was a tendency to a greater increase of the fraction of individuals with central obesity than the overall one. Since abdominal fat deposit is more connected with higher health risks than subcutaneous fat pattern, probably the number of metabolic complications in Polish children and adolescents will intensify in the future. What is Known: • BMI has significant limitations related to fat distribution, while WC is a measure of central adiposity. • Greater central fat deposition increases the risk of many diseases; therefore, WC may serve as a diagnostic measure for detecting central obesity in children at risk. What is New: • In girls, changes in BMI and WC indicate change in adipose tissue distribution to a more central one in late adolescence girls. • Both general and abdominal obesity in Polish children increased significantly from 1966 to 2012, with the tendency to a greater increase of the fraction of individuals with central obesity than the overall one, implying the number of metabolic complications in Polish children and adolescents may intensify in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population health and its determinants are one of the major challenges to social and economic policy. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between occupational activity and biological condition in adult working Polish men. The participants of the study were 300 men (30-65 years), healthy inhabitants of the city of Wroclaw, Poland. Seventeen measures of biological condition were examined. The subjects were divided into three different occupational groups: professionals, soldiers and skilled workers. A comparison of biological age profiles of three occupational groups showed that in the majority of characteristics, professionals had the youngest biological age, whereas skilled workers had the highest biological age. The results for soldiers were not as unambiguous, but biological parameters were generally closer to those for professionals. Inborn biological predispositions and long-term impact of the working environment can influence on the biological condition of various professional groups. Knowledge of the determinants of biological condition might result in efficient use of predisposition to work or may be of help in extending their time of work ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity among children is now an important health problem. This fact, however, does not reflect the scale of the problem. The aim of the present study was to find how much the BMI threshold was exceeded in a population from Kraków.Design: The study was based on three cross-sectional surveys conducted in 1983, 2000 and 2010. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was estimated based on the International Obesity Task Force cut-off points. In addition to these, an extent of overweight (EOW) index was calculated.Setting: Poland.Subjects: Children aged 3-18 years (n 14 534) from Kraków.Results: Between the populations examined in 1983 and 2010, the EOW index in boys rose by almost 10 %, and the prevalence of overweight and obesity by 39 %. In girls, however, the EOW index decreased by 45 %, while the prevalence of overweight and obesity remained at similar levels. Analyses in separate age groups showed that the EOW index increased only among early adolescents (150 % for boys, 94 % for girls) and late adolescents (390 % and 64 %, respectively).Conclusions: The observed increased prevalence of overweight and obesity mainly concerned boys and was accompanied by an increase in the amount by which the BMI threshold values were exceeded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to verify whether or not FTO rs9939609, rs9926289 and TMEM18 rs4854344, rs6548238, rs2867125 variants are important risk factors for overweight and/or obesity in Polish children aged 6-16 (n=283). FTO rs 9939609 and rs9926289 exhibited a strong codominant obesity-predisposing effect of genotypes homozygous for minor alleles (OR=5.42, 95% CI: 2.04-14.39, p=0.0006). The important finding of the study is increased risk of overweight (OR=5.03, 95% CI: 1.15-21.93, p=0.0306) in individuals homozygous for the minor alleles rs4854344, rs6548238 and rs2867125 in the recessive inheritance model, while no other significant associations between TMEM18 variants and risk of obesity were found. Given the identified interaction TMEM18 genotype × BMI category (p=0.0077), it seems that the effect of homozygous for the minor alleles may be compared to a 'weight guard', which significantly increases the risk of overweight, but not of obesity, because it promotes weight gain only up to the threshold of obesity. Conclusion: The proposed hypothetical effect ('weight guard') of homozygous for the minor alleles in the TMEM18 based on a rather small sample is a possible explanation of the effects of minor alleles, which minimize the risk of obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment the prevalence of hypertension and its relation to selected indicators of health status and performance, including classification of BMI, obesity classifications, and body structure in a large test group of 19-year-old men.The study was observational-retrospective, and included a group of 17,282 men, aged 19, from the Małopolska region. All subjects met the qualifications for compulsory military service in 2017. We analyzed selected data obtained from the records of the Ministry of National Defense-spiral-ZINT. Data collection and analysis were carried out from April 1, 2018 to August 31, 2018.Hypertension was found at 0.6%, weak body structure at 0.8% and obesityco-existing with cardiorespiratory insufficiency has been reported 2.6% of respondents and it was more frequent in the recruiters from HT II than I. The underweight concerned almost 7%, and the overweight and obesity of 1/4 of conscripts. The vast majority of people with hypertension were characterized by excessive body weight (74.8%), mainly overweight.Hypertension was seen in a negligible percentage of males studied and was significantly associated with an increase in BMI, particularly with regards to being overweight.

Background: Obesity is a serious public health problem, the prevalence of which is increasing dramatically all over the world. The aim of this study was to examine trends in body mass index (BMI) and the proportion of overweight and obese individuals among 19-year-old Polish males reporting for mandatory military fitness exams from 1965 to 2010. Methods: Height, weight and BMI [weight (kg)/height (m2)] in five 10% nationwide random samples of 19- year-old conscripts examined in 1965, 1986, 1995, 2001 and 2010 were analysed. Results: From 1965 to 2010, mean BMI in 19-year-old Polish males increased from 21.7 to 22.9. The rate of change was not uniform, with a rapid increase in mean BMI from 1995 to 2010. Beginning in 1965, the proportion of men with a BMI over 25 has been steadily increasing from one decade to the next, and was four times higher in 2010 than it was in 1965. The rate of increase per decade was twice as high from 2001 to 2010 than it was from 1995 to 2001. In 2010, only 70.8% of young men were of ideal weight. Conclusion: Increase in obesity can be attributed to the social and economic changes brought about by the transformation of the country from a communist to a free-market economy in 1989. The challenges of the obesity epidemic for public health services and its impact on morbidity and life expectancy are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempted to validate an anthropometric equation for predicting age at peak height velocity (PHV) in 198 Polish girls followed longitudinally from 8 to 18 years. Maturity offset (years before or after PHV) was predicted from chronological age, mass, stature, sitting height and estimated leg length at each observation; predicted age at PHV was the difference between age and maturity offset. Actual age at PHV for each girl was derived with Preece–Baines Model 1. Predicted ages at PHV increased from 8 to16 years and varied relative to time before and after actual age at PHV. Predicted and actual ages at PHV did not differ at 9 years, but predicted overestimated actual age at PHV from 10 to 16 years. Girls of contrasting maturity status differed in predicted age at PHV from 8 to 14 years. In conclusion, predicted age at PHV is dependent upon age at prediction and individual differences in actual age at PHV, which limits its utility as an indicator of maturity timing in general and in sport talent programmes. It may have limited applicability as a categorical variable (pre-, post-PHV) among average maturing girls during the interval of the growth spurt, ~11.0–13.0 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skinfold thicknesses are used as valid anthropometric indicators of regional body fatness. Actual population-based values for skinfold thicknesses for Polish children are not available. The purpose of this study was to provide population-based values for triceps, subscapular, and abdominal skinfold thicknesses in healthy children and adolescents. A total number of 17,416 boys and girls aged 6.5-18.5 years, randomly selected from whole Polish population of children and adolescents, were enrolled in the study. Skinfold thicknesses (triceps, subscapular, and abdominal) were measured using Harpenden skinfold caliper. All measurements were taken after the training of participating investigators. The LMS method was used to fit percentile curves across age for each skinfold. Q tests for fit were used to assess the global goodness of fit of our final models. The study shows for the first time smoothed population-based values of body fat distribution indices for Polish children and adolescents 7-18 years of age. Reported skinfold centiles are higher compared to previously established for Warsaw children and very close to the actual US data. Conclusion Our study provided for the first time population-based values for skinfold thicknesses evaluation in a way allowing to calculate reliable Z scores. The early detection of abnormal fat stores, using our population-based values and respective Z scores, may be now implemented for practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Given the unfavorable economic conditions prevailing in Poland at the turn of the century (system transformation), it seemed advisable to investigate whether parents' education, generally associated positively with the economic situation of the family, still plays an important role in somatic and motor development of their children. Material and methods. The study involved 715 boys, aged 10, 14 and 18, born in the years 1988-1996 and coming from one of the least economically developed region of the country (Lubelskie Vivodeship). Because of parents' education, respondents were divided into two groups: born in families with higher (A) and lower (B) education. Somatic development was assessed based on measurements of height, weight and BMI, and physical fitness on the basis of Eurofit test. Arithmetic means of the somatic and fitness features was normalized according to the arithmetic means and SD of the whole material. Results. Group A was characterized by higher values of the somatic parameters and lower values of motor parameters as compared to group B. Standardization of the results showed that the larger deviation from the average value for the whole material in most somatic and certain fitness features occurred in group B. Conclusions. Despite the unfavorable economic conditions, in which surveyed boys were born and grew up, there was a positive relationship between education of parents and somatic development. This dependency was not observed in the case study of the impact of education of parents on the physical fitness of boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has found that an electoral candidates' eight is correlated with their image. Many studies have found that height is a great asset for a candidate as height correlates with electoral outcome. In this research the previously obtained results were partially confirmed-in the first study the supporters of a given candidate estimated him as taller than his opponents (confirmed by six out of 10 candidates). The second study, conducted during the presidential elections in Poland, showed that electorate-perceived height of candidates for the Presidency changed after the first phase of elections (confirmed by three from six main candidates). These changes in electoral-perceived height depended more upon their electoral support than attitudes toward them. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:To describe changes in the body mass index (BMI) of nationally representative samples of young adult Polish males between 1965 and 2001, and to investigate variation in the incidence of underweight, overweight and obesity between 1965 and 2001 in the young adult males in the context of the socio-political transformation that occurred in Poland since 1989.Subjects:Four 10% nationwide random samples of 29-year-old Polish conscripts examined in 1965, 1986, 1995 and 2001. The conscripts were divided into four socio-occupational groups based on paternal education, occupation and degree of urbanization.Measurements:Height, weight and BMI (weight (kg)/height (m2)).Results:The proportion of overweight and underweight young adult males in the population increased between 1965 and 2001. The fraction of underweight decreased only among sons of farmers and entrepreneurs between 1986 and 1995 and then increased in all socio-occupational groups between 1995 and 2001. On the other hand, the proportion of overweight young adults gradually increased in all groups between 1965 and 2001.Conclusion:Socio-occupational position of the family is an important factor influencing underweight and overweight in young adult males. This factor apparently operates through a differential distribution of income, which influences components of lifestyle most likely associated with level of habitual physical activity and/or diet.International Journal of Obesity (2006) 30, 1382–1388. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803292; published online 14 March 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutrition is one of the health behaviors that in a significant way influence our health. The purpose of the work was to assess the nutrition and body mass of extramural students. 119 extramural women students aged 23-46 participated in the investigation. Anonymous questionnaires which included questions about the respondents' nutrition, self-estimation of quality and quantity of food were to fill by the respondents. Their fatty tissue was measured by reference to the BMI index calculated with a Tanita apparatus. Extramural women students not only eat irregularly but do not follow the dieticians' advice as for the number of meals eaten daily, either. The analysis of frequency of eating basic products revealed both positive and negative health behaviours. To the positive one belong drinking milk every day and eating diary products, eating fresh fruit and vegetables or drinking vegetable / fruit juices. However, the negative health behaviour includes rare eating grain products, e.g., groats, eating sweets frequently and drinking coffee. Self-estimation of body mass in the majority of women students agreed with the BMI index and divergences might be the result of a nowadays popular slim figure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The relationships between intra-uterine growth retardation and stature, relative weight and fat distribution at adolescence have not been comprehensively established. The aim of this report is to assess the effect of low birthweight on stature, relative weight and fat distribution in 14-year-old boys and girls from Wroclaw, Poland. Methodology: Cross-sectional measurements of 1197 boys and 819 post-menarcheal girls aged 13.50–14.49 years were performed during medical examinations in 1997. Stature, body mass index (BMI; kg/m2 ), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-thigh ratio (WTR) were used in the present study. A cut-off value of the 10th percentile of birthweight for particular gestational weeks was used in order to define subjects born small for gestational age (SGA) or appropriate for gestational age (AGA). Two-way ANOVA was used to evaluate the effect of birthweight on anthropometric variables of 14-year-old adolescents, allowing for socioeconomic status (determined by the level of the mother’s education). Results: Birthweight affected stature in boys and girls (P < 0.001), BMI in boys (P < 0.05) and WHR and WTR in girls (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively). At the age of 14 years, both SGA boys and girls were shorter than their AGA peers. The SGA boys had lower BMI, whereas SGA girls accumulated more centralized fat compared with their AGA counterparts. Conclusion: Fetal growth retardation has a long-lasting adverse effect on later physical growth. Polish SGA children do not catch up with their peers in terms of stature by adolescence. Moreover, central fat distribution, as observed among SGA girls, constitutes a significant risk for several adult degenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, when the global and national industry is addicted from various electrical and electronic equipment at a very high level, it is of a special interest to understand the possible origins of the interruptions in the electricity supply. Failures in ground-based electrical and electronic systems, or disturbances of satellites operation caused by influential magnetic storms initiated by the changeable Sun can have a high economic impact on the industry. These strong magnetic storms are triggered by solar-driven disturbances in interplanetary space. Studies of these phenomena have gained a special attention since the incident that had occurred in northern Canada in March 1989. During this event the work of the hydroelectric plant in the region of Quebec was blocked for long, winter hours and many citizens of this region of Canada suffered from a blackout. Analysis performed in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory showed that if that blackout have had taken place in the USA then costs generated only by a not supplied electricity could even reach 6 billion USD. In our paper, we apply time series and statistical analysis tools, i.e. superposed epoch analysis and Wilcoxon Matched Pairs Test, for a large set of data, among them: 4625 failures of electrical grids in southern Poland in 2010, from the total number of 25,616, and 10,656 in the first seven months of 2014, from the total number of 30,155. We investigate only those failures which might be connected with the above described effects. We analyze data of breakdowns with unidentified reasons, as well as failures connected to the aging and electronic devices breakdowns, which occurred during the periods of an increased geomagnetic activity. Based on the data from The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management-National Research Institute we eliminate from the consideration those failures which had meteorological grounds. Our analysis shows the usefulness of these mathematical tools in such a vital for the global and national industry issue, as well, that powerful phenomena of solar origin, somewhat disturbed in 2010 and January–July 2014 the electrical grids productivity in southern Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]