Search

The Aim: to identify the barriers to engaging in physical activity that are perceived by adolescents with overweight and obesity, and to establish whether a correlation exists among the barriers they perceive and the health-oriented motivation for undertaking physical activity., Material and Methods: The study was conducted on a representative sample of 2,300 students aged 13-16 years. The data was collected through an anonymous survey. Young people were asked about their body weight and height, the barriers to physical activity and the health-related motives to engaging in it. The IOTF (International Obesity Task Force) standard by T. J. Cole was used to categorise overweight and obesity, while the PCA - Principal Component Analysis - to assess the motivation for physical activity. Logistic regression was used in the analyses of the correlations among the body weight, the level of health-oriented motivation and the occurrence of accumulated barriers to physical activity., Results: Overweight and obesity was found in 12.4% of the respondents; more often in boys (17.8%) than in girls (7.8%). The most frequently perceived barriers to undertaking physical activity among overweight adolescents include deficiencies in energy, time and support. Three barriers (lack of energy, skills and willpower), as well as the perception of several barriers occurring simultaneously, were reported more frequently by overweight students in comparison with their peers with a normal weight. Among the health-oriented motivation for physical activity in the group of adolescents with overweight and obesity, the most important one was the need to improve health, while the least important the need to look good. The excess of body weight turn out to be an important predictor of the perception of cumulative barriers to physical activity only among adolescents with a weak motivation to undertake physical activity [OR 2.51; CI (1.43-4.42), <0.001]., Conclusions: Young people with overweight and obesity, but with a strong health-oriented motivation, perceive barriers to physical activity similarly to their peers with a normal weight. Thus, motivation is a key element shaping the physical activity of overweight and obese young people by changing their perception of the barriers. In overcoming the barriers to physical activity in obese adolescents, one should aim to comprehensively reduce body weight and to support health-oriented motivation.

Objective: To identify barriers to physical activity (PA) for adolescents according to the gender and age and examine the association between these barriers and youths' physical activity., Subjectand Methods: 3346 students aged 10-16 years (1759 girls) took part in the cross-sectional, nationally representative study. For this paper the dataset was created from adolescents who reported perceived barriers to PA, N = 2300, (1259 girls), range 13-16 years. Barriers and physical activity (MVPA) were analysed for all participants, as well as by gender, age group and place of residence. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the relationships between perceived barriers and physical inactivity for all and than separately for boys and girls., Results: Lack of energy, lack of time and lack of support were three of the five barriers reported by more than 40% of adolescents, statistically more likely by girls than boys and older youth than younger. For boys - lack of time (OR = 2.56; CI = 1.66-3.96), lack of skills (OR = 2.35; CI = 1.94-3.95), lack of willpower (OR = 1.71, CI = 1.05-2.80) and lack of support (OR = 1.64, CI = 1.11-2.41) were the predictors contributing to low level of PA. For girls lack of skills (OR = 3.16, CI = 1.62-6.18), lack of energy (OR = 1.84, CI = 1.14-2.96), lack of support (OR = 1.64, CI = 1.07-2.54) and lack of time (OR = 1.61,CI = 1.00-2.60) were positively and statistically significant associated with physical inactivity., Conclusions: 1. Perceived barriers to physical activity among adolescents have strong negative impact on recommended PA level. For girls lack of skills is the strongest predictor of low PA, for boys - lack of time. 2. Identification more precisely barriers to physical activity among adolescents will enable to developed more effective interventions in high-risk populations.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of meeting health behaviour guidelines regarding eating breakfast, fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity and to identify adolescents who accumulate the unhealthy behaviours., Subject and Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted in 2008 in adolescents aged 13-year-old (N = 574). They self-reported their physical activity (MVPA--Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity), regularity of breakfast eating and fruit and vegetable consumption. The adherence to physical activity and nutritional guidelines were described. Relationships between dependant variables and sex and place of residence were examined. Cluster analysis was used to identify subgroups of youths whose accumulate the unhealthy behaviours., Results: The proportion of adolescents who met each health recommendation varied: 69% ate breakfast on 5 school days, 46.9% consumed at least once a day fruit and vegetable and 27.5% performed recommended daily physical activity. Boys were significantly more active (p < 0.001) and ate breakfast more frequently than girls (p < 0.04). A gender difference in fruit and vegetable intake was not statistically significant. Only 11.5% of adolescents fulfilled all three recommendations, more often boys than girls (p = 0.020). Almost 54% of adolescents had multiple unfavorable health behaviours, and 14,1% all three of them - significantly more often girls than boys (p = 0.011). For adolescents with two risk behaviours, the most prevalent cluster was formed by not meeting the physical activity and fruit and vegetable recommendations., Conclusions: The unhealthy behaviours tend to accumulate among teenagers - more often in girls than in boys, becoming the risk factors for different chronic diseases. Widespread dissemination of healthy lifestyle guidelines among adolescents, their parents and teachers, and undertake interventions aimed to reduce unhealthy behaviours could bring health benefits in the future.

Objective: 1. To estimate the time spent in sedentary behaviour (watching TV, using the computer, doing homework). 2. To assess the link between the total time spent on watching TV, using the computer, doing homework and dietary habits, physical activity, parental practices and body mass., Material and Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted in Poland in 2008 among 13-year olds (n=600). They self-reported their time of TV viewing, computer use and homework. Their dietary behaviours, physical activity (MVPA) and parenting practices were also self-reported. Height and weight were measured by school nurses. Descriptive statistics and correlation were used in this analysis., Results: The mean time spent watching television in school days was 2.3 hours for girls and 2.2 for boys. Boys spent significantly more time using the computer than girls - respectively 1.8 and 1.5 hours, while girls took longer doing homework - respectively 1.7 and 1.3 hours. Mean screen time was about 4 hours in school days and about 6 hours during weekend, statistically longer for boys in weekdays. Screen time was positively associated with intake of sweets, chips, soft drinks, "fast food" and meals consumption during TV, and negatively with regularity of meals and parental supervision. There was no correlation between screen time with physical activity and body mass., Conclusion: Sedentary behaviours and physical activity are not competing behaviours in Polish teenagers, but their relationship with unhealthy dietary patterns may lead to development of obesity. Good parental practices, both mother's and father's supervision seems to be crucial for screen time limitation in their children. Parents should become aware that relevant lifestyle monitoring of their children is a crucial element of health education in prevention of civilization diseases. This is a task for both healthcare workers and educational staff.

Aim: To analyse the influence of selected family socioeconomic factors on the regularity of meals consumption among 13-years aged adolescents., Material and Method: Group of 605 13-years olds identified in the prospective cohort study in 2008 was analysed. Data was gathered with use of posted questionnaires. On the basis of information given by children the regularity (4-5 times a week) of meals consumption on school days and eating meals with parents were correlated with parents' educational level, occupational status and perceived family wealth. The study also recognised the distinction between urban and rural residents., Results: Most questionnaires were filled out by mothers (95%), only 5% by fathers. In urban area, the mother's occupation and the perceived family wealth, correlate with children meals consumption and eating meals with parents. Children whose mothers have a job eat breakfast 1.5 times and supper 3 times less regularly, than children whose mothers don't work. Children from poor families eat breakfast 14 times less regularly than children from rich families as well as eat supper 3 times less regularly than children from average wealthy families. In the rural area, the regularity of meals consumption significantly influence the mother's education. Children whose mothers have a secondary education, compared with children of mothers with basic education, are 4 times more likely to eat dinner and supper regularly., Conclusion: The family socioeconomic factors significantly correlate with regularity of 13-years olds meals consumption and regularity of family meals. The place of residence involve the different factors influencing meals consumption habits. It was shown that children and fathers were too little engaged in family life, including family meals preparation and consumption.

The aim of the study was to examine the prevalence of underweight in Polish teenagers in demographic and regional context. The examination was conducted in 5 regions in Poland, in a representative cohort of 8067 13-15 years pupils in 112 lower secondary schools. The measurements of body height and mass were taken and body mass index (BMI) was calculated in all participants. Pupils with BMI value below 5 percentile of sex-specific growth charts were categorized as underweight. In statistical analysis was used multivariate logistic regression and chi-square test with SPSS v.14 application. The prevalence of underweight in pupils was 4,2%, more prevalent in boys than girls, younger pupils (13 years) than older (15 years). The prevalence of underweight pupils was almost the same in urban and rural area. We found regional differences in prevalence of underweight in examined pupils. The highest prevalence was found in Kujawy region, and the lowest in Podlasie. In the last decade the prevalence of underweight in this population increased approximately 2--4% between 1995 and 2005, with retaining the same regional differences. Results of our study show that regional factors (ethnic, cultural) play more important role than urbanization in prediction prevalence of underweight in adolescents in Poland.

Aim: To analyse the relationships between selected subjective health complaints and psychological distress of 15-19 yrs old adolescents in Poland., Material and Methods: The health survey of the population was conducted by the Central Statistical Office in 1996 in 19203 households inhabited by 62749 people. Dates were received from 5407 adolescents of 15-19 yrs, using AZD-2 questionnaire. Questions concerning subjective health complaints and psychological distress, tested by modified scale GHQ-12 (General Health Questionnaire), was answered by 3708 adolescents., Results: Subjective health complaints reported 1.9-27.5% of adolescents in the age of 15-19. They experienced feeling nervous and irritability the most often (more than 20% under survey), the most rarely -- insomnia and apathy. Every tenth questioned adolescent at the age 15-19 experienced psychological distress. Psychological distress occurred more often in girls, people living in town and raised with age. Risk of subjective health complaints was higher for people with distress. The highest risk (8 times) was for apathy and insomnia. Psychological distress increased the risk of subjective health complaints for boys more than for girls.

The aim of the investigations carried out by the National Institute of Mother and Child in school-aged children and adolescents including a group of obese pupils, was to assess the health behaviour concerning eating habits and food consumption. A part of these investigations was carried out in framework of international collaborative studies. In a representative group of pupils in Poland, we found that vegetable, dark bread and milk consumption remained on low level, while the use of soft drinks increased. The number of children who ate breakfast at home and lunch at school decreased especially in girls. We found a statistically evident difference in eating habits between obese adolescents and these with normal body mass, especially concerning regularity of meal consumption. We find, that it is very difficult to change incorrect eating habits in obese adolescents. We observe in our outpatient clinic, that obese adolescents have changed the quantity of food, but they haven't changed their habits. The recommended by dietitions increase of fruits, vegetables and low fat milk consumption in their diet was not generally accepted.

School children and adolescents needs particularly good medical health care because of the specific character of this developmental period and the danger due to risky behaviours among pupils. The aim of this study was to assess the quality prophylactic health care for pupils in the early stage of initiating health care reforms. The initiation of the health reform on January 1st 1999 caused a deterioration of prophylactic medical health care in pupils. It may also produce more health problems among school children and adolescents in the future.