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This study was supported by a research Grant from the Czech Science Foundation under Reg. No. 17-12579S and a governmental project under Reg. No. CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_025/0007294. Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine secular trends in vigorous physical activity (VPA) among adolescents in relation to family affluence across 34 countries. Methods: This study used data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study from 34 countries in Europe and North America. Adolescents (N = 501,647) aged 11, 13 and 15 years across three survey cycles (2006, 2010, 2014) self-reported data on VPA and a family affluence scale (FAS) using standardized questionnaires. Results: A significant increase in VPA was found in low-FAS boys (girls) in four (10) countries and a decrease in four (three) countries. In high-FAS boys (girls), a significant increase was observed in nine (11) countries and a decrease in two(three) countries. An overall significant increase in meeting the VPA recommendations was found in high-FAS boys (OR 1.11; 95% CI 1.06–1.16) and in all FAS groups in girls, with the largest effect being found among high-FAS girls (OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.18–1.30). Conclusions: A country-specific increase in VPA was observed primarily in the medium- and high-FAS categories. This study suggests a need to focus on increasing VPA efforts, especially in low- and medium-FAS boys. Publisher PDF

Background: The study reveals the relationships between daily physical activity (PA) and the prevalence of obesity in family members separated according to the participation of their offspring in organized leisure-time physical activity (OLTPA), and answers the question of whether the participation of children in OLTPA is associated with a lower prevalence of obesity in offspring with respect to parental PA and body weight level. Methods: The cross-sectional study included 1493 parent-child dyads (915/578 mother/father-child aged 4&ndash, 16 years) from Czechia selected by two-stage stratified random sampling with complete data on body weight status and weekly PA gathered over a regular school week between 2013 and 2019. Results: The children who participated in OLTPA &ge, three times a week had a significantly lower (p &lt, 0.005) prevalence of obesity than the children without participation in OLTPA (5.0% vs. 11.1%). Even in the case of overweight/obese mothers/fathers, the children with OLTPA &ge, 0.002) prevalence of obesity than the children without OLTPA (6.7%/4.2% vs. 14.9%/10.7%). Conclusions: The cumulative effect of regular participation in OLTPA and a child&rsquo, s own PA is a stronger alleviator of children&rsquo, s obesity than their parents&rsquo, risk of overweight/obesity.

The aim of this study was to investigate the test&ndash, retest reliability of the motives for undertaking physical activity (PA) items from the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) study questionnaire among Slovak and Czech adolescents and to determine whether this reliability differs by gender, age group and country. We obtained data from 580 students aged 11 and 15 years old (51.2% boys) who participated in a test and retest study with a four-week interval in 2013 via the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children cross-sectional study in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. We estimated the test&ndash, retest reliability of all 13 dichotomized motives by using Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) and Cohen&rsquo, s Kappa statistics, for continuous and dichotomized motives, respectively. Test&ndash, retest reliability showed moderate agreement for nine motives (ICC from 0.41 to 0.60) and fair agreement for four motives (ICC from 0.33 to 0.40). Kappa statistics were similarly moderate to large (0.33 to 0.61), except for three motives with small or trivial correlations. The motives &ldquo, To improve my health&rdquo, and &ldquo, To enjoy the feeling of using my body&rdquo, had consistently low Kappas and correlations. Overall, the results of this study suggest that most questions on motives for PA on the HBSC questionnaire have acceptable test&ndash, retest characteristics for use among adolescents.

The study was supported from European Regional Development Fund-Project “Effective Use of Social Research Studies for Practice” (No. CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_025/0007294) and the Czech Science Foundation under reg. No. 18-24977S. Objectives: Associations between the perceived social and physical environment and self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and screen time (ST) were examined among adolescents in four European countries. Methods: Representative samples were surveyed with standardised methodologies. Associations between environmental variables and meeting MVPA recommendations and tertiles of ST were tested in gender-specific logistic regression models. Moderation by country and country-specific relationships were also examined. Results: The most consistent findings across countries were found for the significant associations between neighbourhood social environment and MVPA in both boys and girls. Significant associations with the physical environment varied more between countries and by gender. The most consistent negative associations with ST were found for the social environmental variable of having parental rules for spending time outside the home. Conclusions: The present findings provided evidence for the generalisability of the associations between environmental correlates and MVPA across four European countries. The findings show clear differences in correlates for MVPA and ST. Further research is needed to better understand the unique aspects of the social and physical environment which explain each of the two behaviours. Postprint

Background: Previous studies indicate that the level of physical activity (PA) significantly affects children's health. Active transport to school is PA on a daily basis that may contribute substantially to the overall volume of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Aim of our study was to explore whether schools' health promotion and PA-related policies are associated with active commuting in 15-years-old girls and boys actively commuting to and from school and whether gender differences on active commuting exist.Methods: Students in 9th grades (N = 1522; mean age 15 years; 47.7% boys) from the Czech Republic were enrolled. The active transport of adolescents was self-reported within the Health Behavior in School-aged Children survey in the year 2010. Data about school polices were obtained from the school-level questionnaire which was responded to by school principals. Associations between active transport and school health or PA policies were calculated by logistic regression.Results: We found that adolescents actively commuted more often (OR/95%-CI: 3.43/L87-6.27 [girls]; 2,87/1.46-5.642 [boys]) in schools which promote students' walking and cycling to or from school. Adolescents from schools that are planning an implementation of health promotion reported even higher levels of use of active transport (OR/95%-CI: 5.32/2.38-11.92 [girls]; 4.54/2.01-10.24 [boys]). The association was stronger in boys compared to girls.Conclusion: School policies and programs promoting active transport to and from schools in the Czech Republic contribute to the use of active transport and should be widely implemented. Gender-sensitive approaches should also be taken into account.

Background: The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity is a global concern. Although childhood obesity has grown as a result of a complex array of interactions among multiple behavioural, biological, and environmental factors, excessive screen time (ST) and low levels of physical activity (PA) are often discussed as causal factors. Therefore, it is beneficial to identify risky family behavioural patterns contributing to the increasing prevalence of obesity even in pre-schoolers. Objective: The main aim of the study was to assess whether parental obesity and parent-child behavioural patterns (PA and ST) affect the odds of overweight/obesity in 4-to-7-year-old preschool children. Methods: We analysed seven-day PA and ST behaviour among families with pre-schoolers that included 194 preschool children (88 girls and 106 boys) and their parents (165 mothers and 111 fathers). PA was monitored by means of unsealed Yamax pedometers for at least eight hours a day over seven consecutive days during spring (April/May) and autumn (September/October) of 2015. ST was recorded by parents on family log book sheets. To assess the odds of parents' obesity and PA/ST variables in relation to child overweight/obesity, a logistic regression (backward method) was used. Results: Most children (n = 157) reported normal weight (87 boys, 70 girls), 37 children were overweight or obese (19 boys, 18 girls). Children's excessive ST (> 1 hour/day) (OR: 5.65/33.19 on weekdays/weekends), mothers' obesity (OR: 13.80/28.84 on weekdays/weekends), mothers' excessive ST (> 2 hours/ day) (OR: 32.46 at weekends), and children's male gender (OR: 38.69 at weekends) were significantly (p < .05) associated with higher odds of overweight/obesity in the preschool children. Conclusions: Uncovering parent-child behavioural patterns provides insight into the lifestyle of families with pre-schoolers and is a source of valuable information for designing and implementing family-based intervention programmes aimed at reducing obesity. Especially, weekends provide a suitable space for the implementation of joint family programmes aimed at reducing sedentary behaviour.

Background: The main aim of this study was to quantify the associations between parents&rsquo, and children&rsquo, s physical activity by age, gender, and the day of the week on the basis of a pedometer-measured step count (SC). Methods: The sample comprised data from 4-to 16-year-old children and their parents from the Czech Republic (1102 mother-child dyads and 693 father-child dyads). The parents and their children wore the Yamax SW200 pedometer during seven days of monitoring. Results: The strongest SC association was found between mothers and daughters aged 4&ndash, 7.9 years on weekdays (rp = 0.402, p &lt, 0.01) and at weekends (rp = 0.577, 0.01). In children aged 8&ndash, 16, the parent-child association is gender-specific, with the father-son relationship being dominant, especially at weekends (weekend SC: fathers-sons8&ndash, 11.9 y rp = 0.416, p &lt, 0.01, fathers-sons12&ndash, 16 y rp = 0.443, p &lt, 0.01). An increase of 1000 steps in the fathers (mothers) is associated with an increase of more than 400 (200) steps in their sons (daughters). Conclusions: This study confirms a strong parent-child SC relationship in children younger than eight years of age. In older children, the parent-child SC association is gender-specific and dominated by the father-son relationship, particularly on weekends. The SC associations that are revealed can be used for the development of physical activity programs for adolescents.

This study assessed the associations between these factors in a random sample of Czech families with preschool and school-aged children. A nationally representative sample comprised 185 families with preschool children and 649 families with school-aged children (dyads; both parents and child n = 365, mother and child n = 730, and father and child n = 469). The participants wore Yamax Digiwalker SW-200 pedometers at least four weekdays and both weekend days and completed family logbooks (anthropometric parameters, daily step counts (SC), and screen time (ST)). When a parent (fathers at weekends and mothers both on weekdays and at weekends) achieved 10,000 SC per day, their children were also significantly (OR = 2.93-6.06, 95% CI = 2.02-9.26) more likely to meet the daily SC recommendation. On the contrary, the involvement of fathers in organized leisure-time PA reduced their children's odds of meeting the SC recommendation on weekdays (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.31-0.89) and at weekends (OR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.24-0.72). The excessive ST of parents at weekends reduced the odds of their children meeting the SC recommendation (mother-child dyads: OR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.26-0.72; father-child dyads: OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.37-1.06). High levels of parents' PA contribute to the achievement of the recommended daily PA in children on weekdays and at weekends. Excessive weekend ST of parents reduces their odds of their children achieving the recommended daily PA; however, the influence of parents' PA on their children's achieving the recommended daily PA is stronger than the inhibitory effect of ST.

Aim: Uncovering the influences of parents' behaviour on their children's physical activity provides an insight into the lifestyle of families and development of effective family-based interventions. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between parents' behaviour (step count (SC) and screen time (ST)) and children's SC on weekdays and at weekends. Methods: The participants (388 parents aged 35-45 and their 485 children aged 9-12) were randomly recruited from 21 Czech governmentfunded primary schools. The participants recorded SC and ST duration for seven consecutive days (≥10 h/day) during April-May and September-October 2013. The associations between parents' behaviour (SC and ST) and children's SC were estimated using general linear regression separately for weekdays and weekends. Each 1,000 SC increase in mothers' (fathers') SC/weekday was associated with an extra 261 SC/day in their daughters and 413 (244) SC/day in their sons. Results: Each 1,000 SC increase in mothers' (fathers') SC/weekend day was associated with an extra 523 (386) SC/day in their daughters and 508 (435) SC/day in their sons. A reduction in mothers' ST by 30 minutes per weekend day was associated with an extra 494 SC/day in their daughters and 467 SC/day in their sons. Conclusions: This study reveals a quantifiable relationship between parent-child SC/day and mothers' ST and children's SC at weekends. Weekend days are more suitable for the implementation of family-based interventions.

Physical activity (PA) is an important health-promoting behavior from which adolescents with long-term illnesses or disabilities (LTID) can benefit. It is important to monitor differences across countries in adherence with PA recommendations for health. The aim of this study was to compare PA levels among 15 European countries after disaggregating data by disability. Data from pupils (mean age = 13.6 years, SD = 1.64) participating in the 2013/2014 Health Behavior in School-aged Children study were analyzed to compare adolescents without LTID, with LTID, and with LTID that affects their participation (affected LTID). Logistic regression models adjusted for age and family affluence, stratified by gender and country group with PA recommendations for health as the outcome variable. With the data pooled, 15% (n = 9,372) of adolescents reported having LTID and 4% (n = 2,566) having affected LTID. Overall, fewer boys with LTID met PA recommendations for health than boys without LTID, although it was not statistically significant either at the national levels or for girls.

OBJECTIVE: Active commuting (AC) is an important factor in increasing the total daily physical activity (PA) in children, which is significant for their health and positive physical behaviour in adulthood. The objective of the study was to describe trends in active commuting to school among Czech girls and boys aged 11-15 years from 2006 to 2014, using data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study.METHODS: To investigate trends in AC among Czech children of school age data obtained from the HBSC surveys carried out in 2006, 2010, and 2014 was used. The study sample comprised 12,273 respondents, out of whom 5,992 (48.8%) were boys and 6,281 (51.2%) girls. The overall trends in AC were evaluated using logistic regression analysis.RESULTS: Compared with 2006, there was an overall decrease in AC among the 13-year-old boys and 13-year-old girls (boys - 1.8% in 2006 to 50.1% in 2014, girls - 69.3% in 2006 to 46.3% in 2014). The proportion of children AC (walking and cycling) to school significantly decreased from 74.3% in 2006 to 53.4% in 2014.CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that AC to school decreased sharply among Czech children of school age from 2006 to 2014. However, walking was the most frequently used mode of travel. The boys were significantly more likely to cycle to school compared to the girls. PA interventions for youth should encourage participation in AC to school in the Czech Republic.

Background: Lifestyle and health of an individual are influenced by many factors; a significant factor is life satisfaction. Life satisfaction is understood as a multidimensional construct closely related to the area of personal wellbeing and quality of life. Life satisfaction in university students represents one of the determinants of good health, high motivation for studying, work productivity, satisfactory interpersonal relationships and overall healthy lifestyle. Objective: The main objective of the present study is to identify and compare the level of overall life satisfaction and selected components of health, self-evaluation and sexuality in current university students with respect to their study specialization. Methods: The study included a total of 522 students from Palacký University. These were students from the Faculty of Physical Culture (n = 118), Faculty of Education (n = 218) and Faculty of Science (n = 186). In terms of age, the study focused on young adults aged 19 to 26. To assess the current level of life satisfaction, the research study used a standardized psychodiagnostic tool - Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (LSQ). The used diagnostic methods are fully standardized and contain domestic normative values. Statistical result processing was conducted using the Statistica programme v10.0. Results: The highest level of overall life satisfaction was revealed in university students of sport sciences. In comparison with the students of education and students of natural sciences the difference is significant. Satisfaction with health among the students of sport sciences is significantly higher than in the students of education (p ≤ .001; d = 0.53) and the students of natural sciences (p ≤ .05; d = 0.38). Similar results were found in the area of satisfaction with own person and self-evaluation, where the values of the students of sport sciences were significantly higher compared with the students of education (p ≤ .001; d = 0.39) and the students of natural sciences (p ≤ .001; d = 0.30). In the area of sexuality we revealed significantly higher values in the students of sport sciences compared with the students of natural sciences (p ≤ .05; d = 0.32). Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated that current university students who study sports sciences assess their life satisfaction significantly higher compared with the students of other specializations. The results of the study indicated a positive correlation between physical activity of current university students and the subjectively perceived level of life satisfaction, health, self-evaluation and sexuality.

This study investigates whether more physically active parents bring up more physically active children and whether parents’ level of physical activity helps children achieve step count recommendations on weekdays and weekends. The participants (388 parents aged 35–45 and their 485 children aged 9–12) were randomly recruited from 21 Czech government-funded primary schools. The participants recorded pedometer step counts for seven days (≥10 h a day) during April–May and September–October of 2013. Logistic regression (Enter method) was used to examine the achievement of the international recommendations of 11,000 steps/day for girls and 13,000 steps/day for boys. The children of fathers and mothers who met the weekend recommendation of 10,000 steps were 5.48 (95% confidence interval: 1.65; 18.19; p < 0.01) and 3.60 times, respectively (95% confidence interval: 1.21; 10.74; p < 0.05) more likely to achieve the international weekend recommendation than the children of less active parents. The children of mothers who reached the weekday pedometer-based step count recommendation were 4.94 times (95% confidence interval: 1.45; 16.82; p < 0.05) more likely to fulfil the step count recommendation on weekdays than the children of less active mothers.

Participation of 9 to 11-year-old children in physical education lessons (PEL) contributes to a significantly higher duration of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during the school day and, in overweight/obese girls and normal-weight boys, to an increase in overall daily MVPA as shown by previous research. However, it is not known whether this increase in MVPA is at the expense of light physical activity (LPA) or sedentary behaviour (SED). SED, LPA, and MVPA were assessed in 338 schoolchildren aged 9–11 years (50.3% girls; 29.6% overweight/obese) over two school days (with and without a PEL) using a triaxial accelerometer during various segments of the school day. SED, LPA, and MVPA were quantified based on the duration of the activity (minutes). Participation in PEL led to significantly higher school MVPA in the overweight/obese and normal-weight girls and boys (p < 0.005) compared to MVPA of those children on the school day without PEL. Participation in PEL led to a significantly higher overall daily MVPA duration compared to that during the day without PEL for the overweight/obese girls (p < 0.05), normal-weight girls (p < 0.05) and boys (p < 0.005). Participation in PEL contributed not only to significantly higher LPA in the normal-weight girls and boys (p < 0.01) during the school day but also reduced school-time SED in the overweight/obese children (p < 0.01) and normal-weight girls (p < 0.005). Moreover, participation in PEL significantly reduced the overall daily SED in the normal-weight children and overweight/obese boys (p < 0.05). Adding one PEL to the daily school routine appears to be a promising strategy for effectively reducing SED in children.

VÝCHODISKA: Skolni prostředi je považovano za vhodne pro podporu pohybove aktivity děti, ktere zasadně ovlivňuje nejen jejich vztah k realizaci pohybove aktivity, ale i k sobě samým, spolužakům a ucitelům. Vedle rodiny je skolni prostředi významným jevistěm utvařeni životnich hodnot, ke kterým patři pozitivni vztah děti k pravidelne realizaci pohybove aktivity. CIL: Cilem teto studie je pomoci skolniho dotazniku (School-level questionnaire) analyzovat prostorove a organizacni podminky pro pohybovou aktivitu a skolni tělesnou výchovu na zakladnich a střednich skolach v Ceske republice (CR). METODIKA: Ke zjistěni podminek pro pohybovou aktivitu a tělesnou výchovu na skolach v CR bylo využito výběroveho souboru 92 vzdělavacich zařizeni (84 zakladnich skol a 8 viceletých gymnazii). Výzkumný sběr dat proběhl v prvni polovině roku 2012. Pro statisticke zpracovani výsledků byla použita deskriptivni statistika a graficke znazorněni cetnosti zastoupeni kladných odpovědi ve sledovaných oblastech dotazniku. VÝSLEDKY: Mimo vyucovaci jednotky tělesne výchovy organizuji skoly nejcastěji doplňkove formy pohybove aktivity po vyucovani, přicemž každý den organizuje po vyucovani doplňkovou pohybovou aktivitu 29,4 % skol. Každodenni pohybově aktivni přestavky zařazuje 26,8 % skol. Vice než 80 % skol disponuje dostatecným množstvim zařizeni pro realizaci pohybove aktivity a každodenně je využiva. Pouze v 17 % skol maji žaci umožněn přistup do těchto zařizeni take během přestavek a volných hodin. ZAVĚRY: Větsina skol v CR disponuje dostatecným prostorovým zazemim pro realizaci pohybove aktivity děti. Nejcastěji realizovanou formou pohybove aktivity v průběhu vyucovani je skolni tělesna výchova, ktera je vyucovana v rozsahu dvou vyucovacich jednotek týdně. Jako významna se z pohledu celkove urovně pohybove aktivity děti jevi podpora pohybove aktivity v průběhu přestavek a volných hodin.

The decline of physical activity (PA) in adults as well as children and youth is a worldwide phenomenon. The aim of this study is to analyse the amount of PA in Czech university students’ daily lives. The research on university students was conducted as part of nationwide research on PA in the adult population of the Czech Republic. A total of 906 students at eight selected universities were asked to participate in this study. The response rate was 79.5%. We analysed data from 641 university students: 318 male [mean age 21.63 ± 1.73; mean Body Mass Index (BMI) 23.50 ± 1.91] and 323 female (mean age 21.08 ± 1.53; mean BMI 21.23 ± 2.20). The students wore Yamax SW-701 pedometers continuously for seven days. With respect to BMI, the recommendation of 10,000 steps per day on an average day was met by 76% of men and 68% of women of normal weight, 67% of male students who were overweight or obese and 85% of female students who were overweight or obese. Of all monitored days, in both females and males, the number of steps taken on Sunday was significantly lower (p < 0.0001) in comparison to other days of a week. No significant differences were found in the number of steps taken among students of normal weight, students who were overweight and students who were obese on any of the monitored days. The majority of Czech male university students are of normal weight. Only 9% of students meet the criterion of 10,000 steps every day. Approximately two-thirds of students meet the 10,000 steps daily criterion on four or more days per week. The lowest number of steps is taken on Sundays; this finding supports the need for intervention programmes to enhance PA on weekends.

Background: The aim of this study is to explore if perception of an activity-friendly environment is associated with more physical activity and fewer screen-based activities among adolescents. Methods: We collected self-reported data in 2014 via the Health Behavior in School-aged Children cross-sectional study from four European countries (n = 13,800, mean age = 14.4, 49.4% boys). We explored the association of perceived environment (e.g., "There are other children nearby home to go out and play with") with physical activity and screen-based activities using a binary logistic regression model adjusted for age, gender, family affluence and country. Results: An environment perceived as activity-friendly was associated with higher odds that adolescents meet recommendations for physical activity (odds ratio (OR) for one standard deviation (SD) change = 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.18) and lower odds for excessive screen-based activities (OR for 1 SD better = 0.93, 95% CI 0.88-0.98). Conclusions: Investment into an activity-friendly environment may support the promotion of active life styles in adolescence.

This study focuses on determining the relationship between parents’ step count (SC) and screen time (ST) and children’s SC and ST on weekdays and at weekends. The participants (278 parents aged 30–45 and their 194 children aged 4–7) were recruited from 10 randomly selected Czech kindergartens. The participants recorded SC and ST duration over a week-long monitoring (≥8 h/day) during September–October 2014 and April–May 2015. The associations between parents’ SC and ST and children’s SC and ST were estimated using general linear regression for weekdays and weekends. Each 2500 SC increase in mothers’/fathers’ daily SC at weekdays (weekends) was associated with an extra 1143/903 (928/753) daily SC in children. Each 60 min of ST increase in mothers’/fathers’ ST at weekdays (weekends) was associated with an extra 7.6/7.6 (16.8/13.0) min of child daily ST. An increase of 2500 mothers’ daily SC was associated with reduction of 2.5 (7.5) min of ST in children at weekdays (weekends). This study reveals a significant relationship between parent-child SC/day, parent-child ST/day, and mothers’ ST and children’s SC at weekends. Weekend days seem to provide a suitable space for the promotion of joint physical activity in parents and their pre-schoolers.

BACKGROUND: The absence of a paid job has been especially in economically advanced countries associated with a range of negative factors. Unemployment is not only a factor influencing the quality of life but it is also a correlate of physical activity (PA). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to analyze physical activity in a random sample of inhabitants of the Czech Republic with regard to employment. It focuses not only on total PA but also on PA intensity and its different types. METHODS: The level of performed PA and its types were assessed using the IPAQ questionnaire, internationally standardized long administrative version of the questionnaire (Craig et al., 2003). The questionnaire estimates PA and sitting done in last seven days and compares PA of vigorous and moderate intensity, walking and sitting in the context with other personal, demographic and environmental factors. The data were gathered in autumn 2007. This study comprises data of 1514 women and 1458 men aged 25-54 years old. RESULTS: Employed men and women show more vigorous PA and walking than the unemployed. In moderate PA, there are no differences regarding employment and age. PA carried out at home and around the house, and leisure time PA are the same in both employed and unemployed women. Significant differences in total weekly PA between employed and unemployed respondents have been found only in women in the age category of 30-34 years. CONCLUSIONS: There are no difference in moderate PA regarding employment and age. Significant differences in vigorous PA advocate for involving the unemployed into community service and similar work activities.

BACKGROUND: An optimal level of physical activity (PA), in addition to a well balanced diet and medical care, is a fundamental determinant of obesity and overweight prevention. Despite worldwide efforts being brought, we hardly get on well with an effective reduction of the obese population nationwide, as well as with their increase of PA on the health recommended level. OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study was to propose school related PA recommendations to support an active life style of Czech children using review of foreign studies compared to the results of our own monitoring of field PA. METHODS: The base for a formulation of the school related PA recommendations consists of the results of the 81 foreign and Czech studies and the data of long-term and short-term monitorings of field PA of the Czech pre-school and young school aged children (n = 805) and adolescents (n = 4519) from 2000 to 2010. Examples of concrete types of PA are numerically expressed by the number of steps. RESULTS: The physical activity recommendations to support an active life style are formulated separately for kindergarten children, and young school aged children. Apart from daily number of steps and time of duration of PA, the suggested recommendations emphasize versatile motor development and further involvement in organized and structured forms of PA. CONCLUSIONS: Combination of FITT (Frequency, Intensity, Time and Type) characteristics of physical activity, daily number of steps and additional recommendations contributes to common comprehensibility and practical feasibility of the suggested school related PA recommendations.

BACKGROUND: An adequate statistical analysis of obtained data is a necessary condition for the right interpretation of results followed by correct formulation of conclusions. The use of appropriate statistical procedures is repeatedly a subject of justified criticism and recommendations in our and other international publications. For example, during the interpretation of results we often "blindly" rely on the statistical significance, and the practical significance of the research is ignored. OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study is to highlight the formulation of the practical significance of the results and its correct interpretation. We used an analysis of the international studies and own findings from physical activity monitoring. Another aim is to introduce an applicable effect size coefficient as a guide for assessing the practical significance. METHODS: Materials for formulating rules to assess the practical significance and introduction of effect size coefficients was comprised of the 29 international and Czech studies about the level of week and short time (PE lesson, training, exercise lesson) physical activity of Czech children and adolescents (1,129 girls and 938 boys), and adults (5,727 females and 5,426 males) with use of accelerometers, pedometers and IPAQ questionnaires during 2000-2010. RESULTS: Rules for assessing the practical significance consider measurement error, data variability and the size of position from the beginning on the measurement scale. The formulation of the practical significance should include - a) a determination of the minimal values of certain measurement unit that will be limiting for assessing the significancy of the difference; b) the determination of a minimal size of mutual relationship between the expected results and findings. The presentation of the "effect size" coefficients (d, r, r2, K2, ω2) comprises of their definition, the conditions for use as well as the calculation and interpretation of the result. CONCLUSIONS: The presented information about formulating the practical significance and introduction of effect size coefficients should contribute to the improvement of statistical evaluation of data and its consequent correct interpretation of the results.

VÝCHODISKA: Optimalni pohybova aktivita (PA) je vedle vyvaženeho stravovani a lekařske pece jednou z klicových determinant prevence nadvahy a obezity. Ackoliv je Ceska republika stale "chodeckou" spolecnosti, neuspokojivý narůst obezity je zdrojem hledani biopsycho-socialnich determinant a korelatů zdravotně prospěsne PA nejen na celorepublikove, ale i regionalni urovni. Environmentalni a ekonomicke podminky jednotlivých regionů Ceske republiky mohou stimulovat nebo naopak inhibovat pravidelnou PA jejich obyvatel. CILE: Cilem teto studie je analýzou výsledků ANEWS dotazniku aplikovaneho v letech 2005-2009 najit bio-psycho-socio-environmentalni korelaty zdravotně prospěsne pohybove aktivity dospělých obyvatel ostravskeho regionu. METODIKA: Pro zjisťovani urovně týdenni PA byla využita data randomizovaneho souboru 820 obyvatel ostravskeho regionu (448 žen a 372 mužů) ve věku 40,65 ± 8,75 let, ziskana aplikaci ANEWS dotazniku v letech 2005-2009. Prostřednictvim sitě vysokoskolských studentů byla zajistěna distribuce administrativni ceske verze ANEWS dotazniku nahodně vybraným respondentům. Zdravotně prospěsna PA byla vymezena v souladu s celosvětově platnými doporucenimi - minimalně 30 minut PA středni intenzity 5krat týdně nebo 20 minut PA vysoke intezity 3krat týdně (Haskell et al., 2007). Ke statistickemu zpracovani dat byla využita metoda Formalni konceptualni analýzy. VÝSLEDKY: Ženy i muži s placeným zaměstnanim a aktivnim transportem, resp. s nizkým sezenim (≤ 4 hodiny denně) nebo vysoce intezivni PA (≥ 6 METs) s vyssi pravděpodobnosti (≥ 10 %) realizuji zdravotně prospěsnou PA než ženy a muži bez placeneho zaměstnani, s pasivnim transportem, resp. s dlouhodobým sezenim (> 4 hodiny denně) ci bez vysoce intenzivni PA. Věk, uroveň tělesne hmotnosti, kouřeni, ucast v organizovaných formach PA ci rocni obdobi a velikost mista bydlistě nejsou významnými korelaty zdravotně prospěsne PA obyvatel ostravskeho regionu. ZAVĚRY: Podpora zaměstnanosti, aktivniho transportu a zachovani "chodeckeho" a "cyklistickeho" prostředi v ostravskem regionu přinasi mimo jine i zdravotně prospěsnou realizaci PA.

This study examines trends in overweight and obesity, physical activity (PA) and screen time (ST) among Czech adolescents over a recent 12-year study period. Nationally representative samples consisted of 19,940 adolescents (9760 boys and 10,180 girls) aged 10.5–16.5 years from the Czech Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) questionnaire-based surveys conducted in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014. Trends in the prevalence of overweight/obesity, meeting the recommendations for moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) (≥60 min per day of MVPA) and excessive ST (&gt, 2 h per day) were estimated using logistic regression. Significant increases (p &lt, 0.001) in the prevalence of overweight/obesity between the years 2002 and 2014 were evident for both adolescent boys (18.3%2002–24.8%2014) and girls (8.3%2002–11.9%2014). Compared to 2002, in 2014 significant decreases (p &lt, 0.001) in meeting MVPA recommendations were observed among boys (32.2%2002–25.6%2014) and girls (23.2%2002–19.2%2014). Moreover, in boys we observed significant increases (p &lt, 0.001) in excessive ST on weekdays (75.1%2002–88.8%2014), as well as on weekends (78.3%2002–91.9%2014) between the years 2002 and 2014. Increases in overweight/obesity with concomitant decreases in PA provide evidence in support of the current and upcoming efforts of government and commercial organizations in implementing interventions aimed at reducing excessive body weight among Czech adolescents.

Background: The decline of physical activity (PA) and the increased prevalence of overweight and obese children have been discussed worldwide. This study assessed the trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity, PA and sedentary behaviour in Czech school-aged children. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire from the Czech Republic was administered in cycles in 2002, 2006 and 2010 under the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) study. In the study, 14 219 children aged 11–15 years participated. Results: In comparison with 2002, there is a significant increase (P < 0.01) of obese and overweight boys in 2010. The same trend has been recorded in girls, except those in the 13-year-old group. There has been a significant decline (P < 0.05) in meeting PA recommendations in 11-year-old girls and boys and in 13-year-old girls when comparing the 2006 and 2002 data. In 2010, we found a non-significant increase or stagnation of the share of children meeting the PA recommendation compared with 2006. We found an increasing length of sedentary time for children. There were significant associations between>2 h being spent sitting by a TV or PC and consuming fruit and vegetables (negative associations) or sweets and sweetened lemonades (positive associations). Conclusions: An increasing percentage of obese or overweight children, increased sedentary time and a decline or stagnation of the proportion of children meeting recommendations for PA were found among Czech schoolchildren. Future research should evaluate PA recommendations with respect to gender, age and effective intervention approach to reduce the obesity incidence in childhood.

This study uncovered the patterns of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in normal-weight and overweight/obese children before, during, and after school lessons. ActiTrainer-based MVPA was assessed over 2 school days (with and without a physical education lesson [PEL] in a sample of three hundred thirty-eight 9- to 11-year-old children (50.3 % female; 29.6 % overweight/obese), in the Czech Republic, during spring 2012. MVPA was quantified based on the step count (number), MVPA duration, and MVPA heart-rate response (minutes). No differences in the MVPA based on the time during the school day were confirmed in normal-weight versus overweight/obese girls, whereas normal-weight boys significantly exceed their overweight/obese peers in step count and after-school and daylong MVPA. Active participation in PEL contributes to a significantly higher step count, exercise duration, and MVPA heart-rate response in normal-weight and overweight/obese boys (p < 0.001) and normal-weight (p < 0.001) and overweight/obese (p < 0.04) girls during school time. Moreover, active participation in PEL significantly (p < 0.04) increases the overall daily step count, duration, and MVPA heart-rate response in normal-weight boys and overweight/obese girls. Active exercise during PEL accounted for 16.7 % of the total number of steps, 25.1 % of overall MVPA duration, and 24.1 % of the MVPA heart-rate response in 9- to 11-year-old children. During days with a PEL, a significantly (p < 0.02) higher number of overweight/obese girls and a higher number of normal-weight boys achieved the duration of 60 min/day of MVPA compared with days without a PEL. Conclusion: Adding one PEL or an equivalent amount of MVPA to the daily school routine appears to be a promising strategy to effectively increase daily MVPA, particularly among overweight/obese girls.

An adequate amount of physical activity (PA) is a key factor that is associated with good health. This study assessed socio-environmental factors associated with meeting the health recommendations for PA (achieving 10,000 steps per day). In total, 1,653 respondents randomly selected from across eight regional towns (each >90,000 inhabitants) in the Czech Republic participated in the study. The ANEWS questionnaire assessed the environment in neighbourhoods, and participants’ weekly PA was objectively monitored (Yamax Digiwalker SW-700 pedometer). About 24% of participants were sufficiently active, 27% were highly active; 28% participants were overweight and 5% were obese. Although BMI was significantly inversely associated with the daily step counts achieved only in females, for both genders, BMI was generally not significantly associated with the criterion of achieving 10,000 steps per day during the week. Increased BMI in both genders was accompanied with a decline in participation in organized PA and with increasing age. As regards to the demographic/lifestyle factors, for females, more participation in organized PA was significantly positively correlated with the achieved daily step counts. In contrast, older age and higher BMI (for females) and smoking (for males) were significantly negatively correlated with the achieved daily step counts. In terms of the environmental aspects, pleasant environments were significantly positively correlated to daily step counts for both genders. Additionally, for males, better residencies (more family homes rather than apartment blocks) in the neighbourhood were significantly positively correlated with their daily step counts. For females, less accessibility of shops and non-sport facilities (depending on walking distance in minutes) were significantly negatively correlated to the achieved daily step counts. Individuals who lived in pleasant neighbourhoods, with better access to shops and who participated in organized PA (≥2 times a week) tended to meet the recommendations for health-enhancing PA levels. The creation of physical activity-friendly environments could be associated with enhancing people’s achieved daily step counts and meeting the health criteria for PA.

The transition from kindergarten to first year at school is associated with a variety of psychosocial changes in children. The aim of this longitudinal study was to identify the changes in children's physical activity (PA) upon entry to first year at school; and to identify the days of the school week that exhibit low PA. METHODS: We monitored the PA levels of 176 children twice: initially in kindergarten and again in first-year classes at school. The age (mean +/- standard deviation) of children at kindergarten was 5.7 +/- 0.5 years and 6.7 +/- 0.5 years at the first year of elementary school. We evaluated PA employing the activity energy expenditure (AEE - kcal/kg/day) from Caltrac accelerometer and daily amount of steps (STEPS) from Yamax pedometer. Participants were monitored over 7 days to include a weekend. RESULTS: The mean AEE was 11.5 in pre-school girls and 12.9 kcal/kg/day in boys; and STEPS were 9923 steps/day in girls and 11 864 in boys on weekdays. At weekends, it was 11.5 kcal/kg/day in girls and 12.7 kcal/kg/day in boys and 10 606 steps/day in girls and 11 182 steps/day in boys. The mean AEE and STEPS in first-grade girls and boys was 9.9 and 9.8 kcal/kg/day respectively, and 7911 and 8252 steps/day respectively on weekdays, and 8.8 and 9.0 kcal/kg/day and 6872 and 7194 steps/day respectively at weekends. First-grade school children had significantly lower PA than pre-school children on weekdays (P < 0.0001) and at weekends (P < 0.0001). Decline in PA on weekdays was during time spent at school (P < 0.0001) and not during after-school children's leisure time. CONCLUSION: The parts of the week when first-grade school children show low PA are the times spent in lessons and in after-school nursery and at weekends. PA needs to be promoted using intervention programmes mainly during the after-school nursery programmes and at weekends.

Aim: The prevalence of sedentary behaviour has increased, and physical activity (PA) levels have declined with increases in urbanisation and modernisation. Researchers need to find solutions to address this lack of PA. The main aim of this study was to identify the PA level and sedentary behaviour in a randomised sample of the Czech adult population in 2002 and 2011. Methods: To investigate PA in 20-64 year old adults, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) (in 2002) and the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) (in 2011) were applied. The randomised samples comprised 1,782 participants in 2002, and 1,359 participants in 2011. Results: The results showed a significant decrease (F=83.84; p

Background: This study assessed whether the benefits of a 2-year longitudinal non-randomised school-based physical activity (PA) intervention programme to reduce overweight and obesity were still apparent two years after completion of the controlled intervention. Methods: The study involved 84 girls (G) and 92 boys (B) aged 10–12 years who had participated in the PA intervention in 2006–2008 as 6- to 9-year olds and were included in the intervention (I) (43 G and 45 B) and the control (C) groups (41 G and 47 B). Participants’ overweight/obesity was assessed using the percentile graph of Body Mass Index (BMI) from the World Health Organization for girls and boys aged 5–19. Logistic regression (Enter method) determined the overweight/obesity occurrence in a follow-up measurement (2010) two years after completion of the controlled intervention was used. Results: Two years after the controlled PA intervention had finished, the intervention children were less likely to be overweight/obese than the control children (2.3%GI vs. 17.1%GC, 6.7%BI vs. 23.4%BC, odds ratio: 0.25; 95% confidence interval: 0.12; 0.53; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The current study indicates favourable effects of an everyday school-based PA intervention programme on lower overweight/obesity incidence, which was maintained two years after the end of the direct involvement of the researchers.

The purpose of this study is to examine the current level of life satisfaction and its components between two groups of Czech University students with the first group having an active lifestyle and...

The levels of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour are significant indicators of health behaviour and their monitoring is crucial in developing public policy in the area of health promotion and non-communicable disease prevention. The aim of the study was to describe the prevalence of PA and sedentary behaviour as well as age and gender differences in Czech adults (18–90 years old, N = 1753; 48.4% male) participating in the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) cross-sectional study 2011. To assess the significant differences between self-reported PA and sedentary behaviour the MANOVA, a post hoc Fischer's least significant difference (LSD) test and logistic regression were used. The level of PA was classified according to the amount of MET-minutes per week as high, moderate or low. Irrespective of age and gender, 32.3% of adults reported a low level of PA; 21.3% of adults fell within the category of moderate level of PA and 46.4% of adults reported a high level of PA. The level of PA decreases with age; men are generally more physically active than women. More than 60% of adults across all age categories are assessed as ‘sedentary’. The highest rate of sedentary behaviour was observed in adults over 65 years of age. The development of national strategies for PA promotion together with the development and verification of specific intervention programmes, especially for women, should be a priority in the Czech Republic.