Physical activity of Croatian population: cross-sectional study using International Physical Activity Questionnaire.

AIM: To determine the physical activity level of the Croatian population in different domains of everyday life. METHODS: A random stratified sample of 1032 Croatians aged 15 years and older was interviewed using the official Croatian long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Total physical activity and physical activity in each of the 4 life domains--work, transport, domestic and garden, and leisure-time--were estimated. Physical activity was expressed as metabolic equivalent-hours per week (MET-hour/week). RESULTS: Median total physical activity for the whole sample was 58.2 MET-hour/week. Median physical activity in MET-hour/week was 30.4 for work, 5.0 for transportation, 13.1 for domestic and garden, and 6.0 for leisure-time domain. The lowest physical activity was found in the 15-24 age group (42.7 MET-hour/week) and the highest in the 55-64 age group (72.0 MET-hour/week). Multiple regression analysis showed a significant relationship of socio-demographic and health-related characteristics (size of settlements, household income, educational level, age, body mass index, self-rated physical health, and self-rated mental health) with physical activity in all domains (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Studies on physical activity in transition countries should include the domains of work and domestic and garden, since if only leisure-time domain is examined, the total physical activity level could be underestimated. As the lowest physical activity was reported by adolescents and young adults, strategies for increasing physical activity in this age group should be developed.

Is sports recreation important to university students?

The aim of this research is to examine university students' attitudes on recreational exercise. The sample included 473 students from the University of Zagreb. We analyzed the data by analysis of frequency and a statistical method called "Relation model of action". The results indicated that there were two general courses in students' attitudes on recreation activities. The first course represents general values and the second course reflects the attitudes on specific sports and recreational activities. It can be concluded that university students recognize the importance of exercise but they do not understand its real meaning and they do not exercise regularly. Therefore, it is important to foster positive attitudes towards exercise early in youth, which would allow young people to preserve the healthy habit of exercise throughout their whole life. There is a need for quality system of education, which would start early in childhood.