Associations between physical activity, screen time, sleep time and selected academic skills in 8/9-year-old children.

BACKGROUND: High levels of physical activity (PA), low levels of screen time, combined with sufficient sleep time, provide better health benefits. However, few studies have examined the association of these behaviours with academic skills. Therefore, this study aims to determine how PA, screen time, and sleep time are related to selected academic skills of 8/9-year-old children while examining compliance with the guidelines on PA, sedentary behaviour, and sleep among this population group. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 114 primary school children (50% girls) aged 8-9years old from 2nd grade. The levels of PA, screen time, and sleep were assessed using self-reported questionnaires. The selected academic skills (based on reading and writing) were assessed by a battery of methods designed to diagnose the causes of school failure in students aged 7-9. Non-linear regression was applied to build multivariate models aimed at finding the most significant predictors for the selected academic skills separately. RESULTS: Sixty-seven percent of children met the sleep guidelines, 22% met the screen time guidelines, and only 8% met PA guidelines. In terms of screen time, boys spent more time playing games than girls (p = .008). Moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) was associated with higher/better scores of the visual-auditory integration (B = -0.07, p = .040). Not meeting the sleep guidelines was associated with lower scores in visual-auditory integration among children (B = 0.12, p = .042). Children who did not meet the screen time guidelines had lower scores in perceptual-motor integration (B = -0.09, p = .040). CONCLUSIONS: Participating in PA, limiting screen time and sufficient sleep time may benefit/support academic skills in children.

Physical activity promotion among pregnancy - the role of physician from the women's perspective.

Objective: The clear benefits of planned and supervised physical activity (PA) during pregnancy make it imperative that women are encouraged and educated about this activity. This study aimed to investigate how effectively physician promote physical activity and exercise among pregnant women. It also examines pro-health changes in selected health behaviours during pregnancy. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited a total of 353 pregnant women in Wielkopolskie Voivodship in Poland. An anonymous survey (on-line or in-paper) was used to assess physical activity before and during pregnancy (with Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire), physical activity self-efficacy, well-being (WHO-5 Well-Being Index), and guidance received from physicians on physical activity during pregnancy. Results: Only 41% of women surveyed followed WHO recommendations for PA before pregnancy, and they were much more likely to discuss safety and the need to change the intensity or type of PA with their doctor or gynaecologist. Only 23% of women were asked about their PA before pregnancy and less than 40% were encouraged to be active during pregnancy. We observed a higher probability of poor well-being among pregnant women who were inactive before pregnancy (OR = 1.873, 95%CI 1.026 to 3.421, p = 0.041). Conclusion: Health professionals infrequently educate and motivate women to be physically active during pregnancy. Physician advice, as it is currently perceived by women, seems to be insufficient to help pregnant women meet the recommendations for PA during pregnancy.

The effects of the 'active before school' programme on the academic skills of 8-9-year-old children: a physically and cognitively engaging intervention.

Introduction: Literature underscores the significance of exercise and cognitive stimulation for achieving academic success. This study aims to investigate the effects of the technology-based "Active Before the First School Bell" programme, comparing the effects of two school-based interventions (physical activity vs. cognitive engagement) on the academic skills of 8-9-year-old children. Methods: This encompasses their school skills, visual-motor coordination, levels and attitudes towards physical activity, and fitness. The study involved 88 primary school children (age: 8.3 years, 58.0% girls). To assess the programme's distinct effects children were categorised into three groups. The first group (n = 31) participated in cognitive classes (CEG), the second (n = 27), in physical activity classes (PAEG), and the third (n = 30), was a control one (CG). A 12-week intervention, consisting of three 15-min sessions per week before school, was implemented. Self-report questionnaires gauged levels of physical activity. Academic skills were assessed using a battery of diagnostic methods for school failure in early childhood education. Fitness was measured using selected items from the Eurofit test battery. Pre- and post-test measures were collected and analysed, employing one-way ANOVA on ranks with Dunn's post-hoc tests. Results: Significant post-test differences between the groups were observed in visual spatial function, with the PAEG outperforming the CG, and in auditory and language functions, where both experimental groups outperformed the CG. Results suggest that before school physical activities may be more effective than cognitive activities in improving the academic skills. Conclusion: The short-term effects obtained provide insights for implementing before-school programmes for children in the early school years.

Comparison of Physical Activity Levels in Youths before and during a Pandemic Lockdown.

This study aimed to compare physical activity (PA) levels before and during a pandemic lockdown among adolescent Polish youths in relation to meeting the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommendations of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and identify potential environmental factors that may affect these levels. An online survey tool that included validated measures of adolescents' MVPA and socio-environmental, potential confounders was administered to youths (e.g., lack of classmates, motivation, possibility of choosing any physical exercise time, possibility of choosing your own exercises, home environment). The analytic sample comprised 127 adolescents aged 15.4 ± 0.5 years on average (52% girls and 48% boys). The results highlight that among adolescents who did not meet the WHO MVPA recommendations before the lockdown, 13.4% had an increased frequency of PA (from 2.9 to 5.4 day/week) (p = 0.01) during the lockdown. In the group who did meet these recommendations before the lockdown, 50% significantly decreased their level of MVPA below the WHO's recommendations (p = 0.01). Self-rated health for PA showed a significantly strong correlation with MVPA in the group of students who met the WHO recommendations before the pandemic (r = 0.76; p < 0.05) but failed to maintain that recommendation during the COVID-19 restriction. The results suggest a negative impact of the pandemic on PA undertaken by youths. Based on these results we see the need for increased action by both Physical Education (PE) teachers and parents to motivate and support youngsters in taking up systematic PA consciously.

Assessment of selected nutrient intake by Polish preschool children compared to dietary recommendations: a meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: In recent years a steady increase in the number of obese people has been observed worldwide. This problem is also increasingly applicable to children and adolescents. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis of studies carried out in Poland over ten years (2005-2015) which analysed the diet of preschool children and assessed how significantly it affects the prevention of diet-dependent disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two of the researchers independently performed a systematic search of Medline, Embase, Google Scholar, and the Polish Medical Bibliography to find studies published between 2005 and 2015. The variance of the means of differences between selected factors in relation to dietary guidelines and standards for preschool children was estimated by summing the individual variances of means. The means of differences between selected factors across the studies were pooled using random-effects model meta-analysis. RESULTS: The analysis included a total of 2095 children. Mean protein content in the diet of children studied is 111% higher than indicated in dietary recommendations for this age group; mean consumption of carbohydrates in the study group is 24% higher than recommended. In moderately high calorie diets, analysis showed that the recommended norm is exceeded by 47%, CE 0.77, p < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Nutrient intake is not compliant with recommendations for this age group and could not only inhibit physical development, but also increase the risk of diet-dependent diseases.

Physical Activity, Physical Fitness and the Sense of Coherence-Their Role in Body Acceptance among Polish Adolescents.

The aim of the study was to investigate the protective role of physical activity (PA) and other health-related bio-psycho components (physical fitness, body composition, body perception and the sense of coherence (SOC)) in body acceptance. We searched for gender differences in those relationships. We investigated 231 adolescents aged 13-16 years from an urban area in Poland. We conducted objective measurements of height, weight, fat% and relative value of minute oxygen consumption. Questionnaires for PA, SOC Body Figure Perception and body acceptance were applied. Linear regression was used for analyzing determinants of body acceptance. We found that more physically active girls reported a less slim ideal vision of their figure (p < 0.05). Physical fitness is a better predictor of body acceptance than physical activity. In the final model, the sense of coherence, body mass index (BMI), and gender (being a boy) were also predictors of body acceptance (F(6,92) = 13.084, p < 0.0001). Gender differences were discussed in the present study. Fitness enhancing physical activity should be recommended for adolescents to achieve the protective psychosocial effect especially among girls. Physical activity on a daily basis brings positive results in a more adequate and reasonable body assessment and it can play a protective role in terms of mental wellbeing. Body satisfaction varies between genders and it is a more sensitive issue among girls than boys during adolescence.

Associations between adolescents' physical activity behavior and their perceptions of parental, peer and teacher support.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine adolescents' perceptions of parental, teacher, and peer support for physical activity, and to examine the associations between these perceptions and physical activity behavior. METHODS: The study included 902 secondary school students, who completed the Short Scale of Youth's Social Support Assessment (SSYSS). The level of physical activity - more specifically, moderate to vigorous physical activity - was measured using a Physical Activity Screening Measure. The associations were examined by a five-step hierarchical regression. Body mass index (BMI) was defined using the LMS method, which summarizes the distribution of BMI by age and gender in terms of three curves, L (lambda), M (mu), and S (sigma), and was based on a nationally representative sample of Polish children and adolescents. RESULTS: The study indicated a positive correlation between MVPA (moderate to vigorous physical activity) and three sources of social support; however, in the regression model, this explained only part of the variance. In the hierarchical multiple regression analysis, MVPA level was predicted by five variables involvement in sports training, teachers support, parents support, gender and BMI. The direct effects for teachers and parents support were similar. This demonstrates that both teachers' and parents' social support exert influence on adolescent MVPA. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this research suggest that school-based interventions for adolescents should specifically take into consideration family, teachers, and peers as important sources of social support for general physical activity promotion that aims to increase its levels.

Reproductive Health Literacy and Fertility Awareness Among Polish Female Students.

The falling fertility indicators and high prevalence of infertility in Poland make it important for people of reproductive age to have good knowledge of their own fertility in order to be able to take care of their reproductive health. This paper examines reproductive health literacy and fertility awareness among Polish female students. It can help identify gaps in reproductive health education in Poland. The study group included 456 women aged 18-29, who were students of 6 public universities located in Poznan, Poland. The method used was a survey using a self-developed questionnaire assessing the students' knowledge of female and male fertility-related physiology and fertility patterns. The respondents' knowledge was assessed on the basis of the percentage of correct answers. Regression analysis and univariate analysis of variance were used to explore relationships between the students' knowledge and their age, year of study, university and source(s) of information. The average score of correct answers was 55.8%. Older students and medical university students were the most knowledgeable. 93.4% of the respondents correctly identified the optimum age for a woman to have the first child from the point of view of achieving pregnancy fast. Over 90% of the respondents knew such fertility-compromising risks as smoking, diseases and psychological distress. There was much poorer awareness of the adverse effect of unbalanced diet, irregular sleep, and long-lasting physical effort. 47.1% of the students reported gaining information from a number of sources, but as many as 28.3% said their only source was primary or middle school classes. Reproductive health knowledge among the young female students is incomplete, especially as regards lifestyle-related risks. They should be encouraged to supplement it by consulting reliable sources such as health professionals. It is advisable to ensure that the curricula of medical university students provide thorough knowledge in this area, and to arrange suitable electives for students from other universities. As primary and secondary school classes remain an important source of information, quality teaching at these levels should be offered with a focus on making the knowledge as practical and operational as possible. Relevant graduate, postgraduate and in-service courses should be available to professionals responsible for spreading reproductive health knowledge.

The Role of Family Time Together in Meeting the Recommendation for Physical Activity among Primary School Children.

Family time may have an influence on children's physical activity (PA) participation or may contribute to increased sedentary behaviour. The aim of this paper was to examine whether spending family time is associated with the PA of children aged 10-11. Cross-sectional data on 158 primary school children (80 girls and 78 boys) with a mean age of 10.6 ± 0.49 years were collected. Weight and height were used to calculate body mass index. The level of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was determined with a physical activity screening measure. Participants wore a Vivofit® wrist band activity tracker to measure their daily number of steps. The Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children questionnaire was used to obtain information from children about the frequency of activities undertaken by the family. Analyses entailed descriptive statistics of the total sample and by gender, t-test, and the Mann-Whitney U-test to examine the gender differences and Spearman's correlation coefficients. It was found that 32.3% of the children did not accomplish at least 60 min per day on ≥5 of the seven days and more than 75.9% of them did not accumulate at least 12,000 or more steps daily. More boys than girls tended to be sufficiently active and met the guideline of at least 60 min per day on ≥5 of the seven days (70.5% and 65.0%, respectively) or 12,000 steps per day (25.8% and 10.0%, respectively). The number of steps during the weekday was significantly and inversely associated both in girls and in boys with active family time (r = -0.27 and r = -0.25, respectively), and with total family time (r = -0.28) and non-active family time (r = -0.25) only in boys. Average MVPA was also inversely correlated with active family time (r = -0.31), non-active family time (r = -0.24), and total family time (r = -0.29) in boys. The correlation effect size values ranged between small to medium significant differences for these measures. The findings underscore the need for community-based PA programmes designed for whole families to meet the recommended PA of children and also to develop and promote active leisure activities among families.

Assessment of epidemiological obesity among adults in EU countries.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a serious health problem in nearly all regions of Europe. During the last four decades, the percentage of obese people increased four times among men and twice among women, reaching a global epidemic scale as the biggest health-related issue in the developed and developing countries. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to assess the epidemiological situation of obesity, according to gender among adults in Europe, compared with other regions and selected worldwide countries, as well as to devise a forecast for the near future based on analysis results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An overview was performed of the World Health Organization (WHO) statistical database in 1999-2016, concerning obesity prevalence among people over the age of 20 across 28 countries of the European Union. A forecast for the years 2020 and 2030 was prepared by evaluation of gradients for trendline equations. Moreover, some of the world regions, as well as individual countries, five per region, were collated and analyzed to prepare the forecast. RESULTS: The percentage of obese people in the countries of the European Union continues to increase every year. The dynamics of obesity growth in Europe is greater for men than for women (3.09% per year vs. 1.92% per year). With the growth rate remaining at the estimated level, in 2030 there will probably be more obese men (38.1%) than women (32.7%) in Poland, and in Europe likewise - 36.6% and 32.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity has become a major epidemiological problem and an undisputable health problem not only in Poland and other European countries, but worldwide.

How Years of Sport Training Influence the Level of Moral Competences of Physical Education and Sport Students.

BACKGROUND: The study purpose was to investigate the level of moral competences and prosocial behaviours in a physical activity (PA) context and differences between first year freshman students enrolled in both the physical education and sport coaching majors. METHODS: We draw on data from students of the Faculties of Physical Education (109) and Sport (94) at Poznan University of Physical Education. For measurement, Lind's Moral Competence Test was used. Comparative analysis of differences between the groups was undertaken with the use of Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric analysis of variance was used for further analysis. RESULTS: The results show that there were no significant differences between the examined students in majority of the characteristics. Students comply with the recommended levels of physical activity, but 70% present low level of moral competences. Parents were the most influential factors in moral development across levels of competences and genders. More years of sports training showed a positive relationship with moral development (only in the group of male students with high level of moral competency). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the findings, it is recommended to consider the changes in physical education and sport students education training programmes which should include more critical reflection and life-long learning competences.

Obesity. An analysis of epidemiological and prognostic research.

INTRODUCTION: Apart from its medical dimension, the current problem with obesity has acquired social urgency. This serious lifestyle disease has a negative impact on a number of life processes in the body, causing distortions and damaging different structures. It also contributes to clinical complications, lowers the quality of life and reduces life expectancy. Apart from health-related consequences, it can bring such unfavourable results as social, mental and emotional disorders. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic review of relevant epidemiological studies on obesity in Poland relative to selected countries in Europe and the world over the past 15 years was conducted. Also an attempt was made at forecasting the development of the obesity problem. RESULTS: The analysed results demonstrated that the percentage of obese people among the adult population of Poland was on the rise in the period under investigation. Taking into account the estimated growth rate, we can assume that the percentage of obese people in Poland right now might total 23.7% for men and 23.3% for women. If no changes are introduced in this respect, in 2020 we can expect a rise to, respectively, 30.3% and 27.3%, and in 2030 to 37% for men and 31.4% for women. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in the percentage of obese people among the adult population in Poland is most likely connected with a positive energy balance. In comparison to other European countries Poland has the highest percentage of obese men and women.

Economic aspects of hypertension treatment in Poland.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to assess the costs associated with mild hypertension (HTN) in Poland and to compare the costs of 3-year ambulatory care for those diagnosed with mild HTN (group A) and those diagnosed with mild HTN and comorbidities (group B). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The researchers undertook a retrospective study of a group of 120 patients treated for 3 years (2006-2008) (60%, n = 72 women and 40%, n = 48 men), taking into account the broadest possible social perspective. Medical and non-medical direct costs as well as indirect costs were calculated. RESULTS: The total costs of the 3-year pharmacotherapy in group A equalled 49,985.65 EUR, or 833.09 EUR per patient, whereas in group B the costs were twice as high: 105,691.55 EUR in total or 1,761.53 EUR per patient. Indirect costs for group A patients totalled 3,468.80 EUR (578.13 EUR per patient) and 4,579.20 EUR for group B patients (572.40 EUR per patient). Total direct costs (medical and non-medical) and indirect costs for group B patients were much higher, amounting to 130,228.14 EUR and 2,666.55 EUR per patient, which was double the costs in group A, where costs were 74,184.96 EUR and 1,756.73 EUR per patient. CONCLUSIONS: The costs of HTN treatment in Poland are very high and are growing, like in other countries. Potential solutions include developing better patientdoctor communication to improve compliance, and increasing the chances of more effective and less expensive therapy by prescribing cheaper generic drugs, limiting polypharmacy and improving availability of novel therapeutic methods.

Health-related behaviours and hypertension prevention in Poland. An environmental study.

INTRODUCTION: Primary and secondary prevention of hypertension is difficult and if the condition is not treated it may cause a number of dangerous complications. The objective of this study was to collect and systematize data on the health-related behaviours of Poles aiming at the prevention of hypertension in order to determine potential areas where primary health care could be improved. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A group of 1018 participated in the study (60% women and 40% men). The study was conducted in Poland in 2009 by means of an anonymous research questionnaire developed for survey use. The study involved people aged 30-50 years, who had not been diagnosed with hypertension, and who were under the care of a primary care physician. RESULTS: Over 35% of respondents in the potential risk group do not measure blood pressure at all, and just over 10% perform cholesterol and blood glucose level tests more often than once a year. Individuals who pay most attention to prevention in the form of physical activity are women, more often young (67% of people under 35), unmarried (52%), mostly with secondary or higher education. Moreover, one third of the women surveyed (32.4%) and almost half of men (48.4%) stated that they smoke cigarettes, and in most men (66.3%) the amount of alcohol taken in one serving exceeded the pressor threshold (> 20 g). CONCLUSIONS: Desirable health-promoting actions such as stress reduction are effective but actions such as consuming alcohol and eating fats are unsatisfactory and require intensive public education.