Influence of Food Habits and Participation in a National Extracurricular Athletics Program on Body Weight within a Pair-Matched Sample of Polish Adolescents after One Year of Intervention-#goathletics Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic reduced the physical activity level and commitment in adolescents, which has resulted in a body weight increase, and the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that this negative trend must be now counteracted. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of food habits and participation in a national extracurricular athletics program (Athletics for All) on body weight within a pair-matched sample of Polish adolescents after one year of intervention. The #goathletics Study was conducted in a population of Polish adolescents within two pair-matched groups: 506 adolescents aged 10-14, including 281 female and 225 male adolescents, regularly participating in Athletics for All program for at least 9 months (one school year) (intervention group), and a pair-matched control group (matched taking into account city, gender, and age). The #goathletics Study included the assessment of the body weight, which was conducted based on the growth reference charts for Body Mass Index (BMI), and waist circumference to verify central fatness. Athletics for All participation and food habits were verified as determinants of body weight, while food habits were assessed using the validated Adolescents' Food Habits Checklist (AFHC). While compared the intervention group and control group, statistically significant differences were observed for body weight, BMI, and waist circumference, both for crude and relative values, with adolescents participating in the Athletics for All program presenting a lower risk of excessive body weight and central fatness (p < 0.05), while, compared to sub-groups stratified by AFHC score, no statistically significant differences in general anthropometric characteristics were observed (p > 0.05). While the body weight centile, height centile, BMI centile and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were assessed as the resultant variables, it was revealed that participation in the Athletics for All program is the only influencing factor in multi-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) for body weight centile (F = 21.44; p < 0.0001) and BMI centile (F = 47.98; p < 0.0001), but for height centile and WHtR, none of the assessed factors influenced these variables. It was concluded that regularly participating in the Athletics for All program for at least 9 months was the only determinant of a lower risk of excessive body weight in adolescents, with declared food habits and gender not being significant.

Results from Poland's 2022 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth.

This paper presents the methodology and results of Poland's 2022 Report Card on physical activity (PA) of children and adolescents, as part of the Global Matrix (GM) 4.0 project. The aim of this paper is to discuss the current state of PA of children and adolescents in Poland. Grades were assigned to ten indicators of behaviors, physical fitness and sources of influence or settings, based on a synthesis of the best available data. In Poland two indicators: Overall Physical Activity (OPA) and Active Play were not assessed. Out of the other indicators, School received the highest score B+, whereas the other indicators had generally moderate to weak scores (between C+ and D). Scores for Organized Sport and Physical Activity, School and Physical Fitness indicators were improved compared with the previous GM, whereas scores for Active Transport and Government were lower. No positive changes regarding OPA or Sedentary Behaviors were observed. One of the limitations of PA promotion in Poland is that government-level PA policies are overly focused on organized PA and sport. Recommendations for improving PA monitoring in Poland, influencing PA behaviors and strengthening PA settings and sources of influence are also discussed.

Demographic analysis of difficulties related to remote education in Poland from the perspective of adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic all schools in Poland were closed and obliged to conduct lessons remotely. The aim of the study is to present the demographic analysis of difficulties with remote learning, as perceived by students during coronavirus pandemic in Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In April 2020, a nationwide online survey was conducted among adolescents aged 11-18 (N=2408). Quantitative and qualitative data were used. Teenagers were asked about the problems connected with remote learning. In order to examine the overall level of remote learning difficulties, a scale of remote learning difficulties (RLD) was devised (range 0-23 points). Differences connected with gender, age and place of residence were analysed. RESULTS: More than a half of the teenagers surveyed rated the increased demands from teachers as a major problem. This answer appeared statistically more often among girls than boys (59.6% v. 53.2%). Almost every third adolescent saw the lack of consultation (31.6%) as a significant problem. Difficulties related to learning in the remote system were most often described as considerable by the oldest students (17-18-years-old) and those living in rural areas. The big problem for them was usually much higher requirements of teachers and poor organization of distance learning. The mean level on the scale of remote learning burden was M=11.9 (SD=7.1). Technical difficulties and insufficient skills in using software constituted additional problems most frequently mentioned by students. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to pay particular attention to organizing appropriate technical conditions for remote learning, especially in rural areas, where students have complained more often than in cities about equipment and problems with access to the Internet during the pandemic.

Do Sports Clubs Contribute to the Accumulation of Regional Social Capital?

Social capital (SC) affects quality of life, sport behaviours and health in individual and community context. The aim was to analyse how sports activity (SA) contributes to SC accumulation in a post-transformation country. A combination of four longitudinal, nationwide datasets was used. Instrumental variable method was applied. Results show that in 19+ Poles, on a regional level, SA improves SC. This suggest that sports clubs and at least some types of sports infrastructure can constitute a valid tool for social policies aiming at improving social involvement. The self-triggering character of SA is a valuable asset for social impact regionally and beyond. It is important to estimate the changes in a long-term perspective, due to the inertness of the SC.

Importance of Self-Efficacy in Eating Behavior and Physical Activity Change of Overweight and Non-Overweight Adolescent Girls Participating in Healthy Me: A Lifestyle Intervention with Mobile Technology.

Very little is known about how multicomponent interventions directed to entire populations work in selected groups of adolescents. The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Healthy Me one-year program on changes in healthy eating and physical activity among overweight and non-overweight female students. Randomization involved the allocation of full, partial or null intervention. The randomized field trial was implemented in 48 secondary schools (clusters) all over Poland among 1198 15-year-old girls. In this study, a sample of N = 1111 girls who participated in each evaluation study was analyzed. Using multimedia technologies, efforts were made to improve health behaviors and increase self-efficacy. The main outcome was a health behavior index (HBI), built on the basis of six nutritional indicators and one related to physical activity. HBI was analyzed before and immediately after intervention and at three months' follow-up, and the HBI change was modeled. Statistical analysis included nonparametric tests and generalized linear models with two-way interactions. Comparing the first and third surveys, in the overweight girls, the HBI index improved by 0.348 (SD = 3.17), while in the non-overweight girls it had worsened. After adjusting for other factors, a significant interaction between body weight status and level of self-efficacy as predictors of HBI changes was confirmed. The program turned out to be more beneficial for overweight girls.

Evaluation of questionnaire as an instrument to measure the level of nutritional and weight gain knowledge in pregnant women in Poland. A pilot study.

Pregnancy is a period in life in which women are willing to improve their lifestyle. Providing proper information for these women is crucial for their health and the health of their offspring. Clear information about weak points in their nutritional and weight gain knowledge is the first step for proper health care assistance. There are a few previous studies evaluating the nutritional and weight gain knowledge of pregnant women. In the few studies available, different approaches were taken and there was no wider discussion on the content of the questionnaires attempting to measure level of knowledge. The aim of this study, designed in a pilot fashion, was to test the adequacy of the questionnaire as a research instrument in a group of 139 pregnant Polish women. The developed instrument is a 33-item questionnaire comprising four domains: weight gain, importance of nutrients, quality and quantity of food intake. The results of this study indicate that the questionnaire is stable and internal consistency is acceptable (Cronbach's alpha > 0.7) for dimensions with more than four items. For dimensions with less than four items, internal consistency was poor (Cronbach's alpha < 0.7). The cumulative explained variance for domains weight gain, importance of nutrients, quantity and quality of food intake was 54.74%, 42.74%, 54.42% and 48.99% respectively. Results from validity, reliability and factor analysis indicate that the questionnaire is adequate for its purpose.

Impact of sports activity on Polish adults: Self-reported health, social capital & attitudes.

The aim of our study was a quasi-experimental estimation of the relationship between sports activity and social capital, and an assessment made at an individual level of the impact of sports activity on health, beliefs and the social situation of Polish adults. Matching estimation method and Social Diagnosis data were used. The dataset enables not only an analysis of the self-reported health, but also of social capital. The panel structure of the data and the applied method allow for stratifying the sample using past characteristics, including past sports activity, as well as for assessing outcomes after the treatment-engaging in sports activity-takes place. Both allow for an interpretation of the results as reflections of a causal relationship. Even though publications applying matching estimation or IV estimation to assess the impact of sports activity have recently been increasing in number, ours is the first to concentrate on the effects on multidimensional social capital for adults using panel data and matching estimation. It is also the first to focus on a country that is neither one of the most developed in the world or one of the least developed. The results obtained suggest significant heterogeneity in terms of age, gender and place of living. We also found that sports contributed to building social networks and being socially active. Our research indicates that sports activity enhances social health. It can be used as a tool for a policy of social activation and strengthening the health potential of adults, especially those over 40.

Social and Behavioral Predictors of Adolescents' Positive Attitude towards Life and Self.

Positive attitude is an important cognitive component of optimism. Although optimism has been widely studied in adolescents' health, there is limited knowledge about social and behavioral determinants of their positive attitude. The aim of this study was to identify the main predictors of a positive attitude towards life and self in adolescence. Data were collected in 2010 from 2562 Polish adolescents, aged 15 to 17 years old, within the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children survey. A positive attitude was measured using the 4-item Positive Attitude Scale (PAS). Univariate analysis of variance was conducted and then hierarchical linear regression models adjusted for gender, age and family affluence were estimated. The mean PAS score was 13.25 (SD = 3.74), on the scale ranged 0-20. Eight out of 18 variables were included in the final model, which explained 25.1% of PAS variability. Communication in the family and with peers, as well as neighborhood social capital showed the strongest impact on positive attitude in adolescents. Physical activity, eating breakfast and school performance were also found to be important predictors. The results of the study highlight the need to include the development of interpersonal competences, promoting physical activity and supporting school performance, in adolescents' mental health promotion programs, particularly in girls.

Behavioural factors as predictors of self-rated health among polish adolescent girls.

OBJECTIVE: Introduction: Self-rated health (SRH), an indicator which is extensively used in population studies, constitutes a measure of health closely linked to morbidity, mortality and overall health status and enjoys popularity in surveys monitoring adolescents. Most studies show that at puberty girls assess their health as worse than boys do, and the difference widens with age. Moreover, puberty is a crucial period for health, since it is the time when health risk behaviours are often initiated or become established. Aim: To analyse the associations between high scores on self-rated health among 15-year-old girls, participants of the Healthy Me programme, and their selected health behaviours. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Material and methods: The study covered a group of 1173 second-grade female students from 48 lower secondary schools located in rural and urban areas of 16 voivodeships all over Poland. The participants answered questions about chronic diseases or disability, self-rated health, diet, leisure activities, physical activity and health risk behaviours. In the statistical analysis, the association between self-rated health and individual indicators of health behaviour was examined using logistic regression. RESULTS: Results: Two thirds of the girls assessed their health as excellent or good. Only approximately 5% of the respondents made the "extreme negative" assessment. In the final multivariate analysis, five factors remained important predictors of high self-rated health scores: regular participation in physical education classes, vigorous physical activity, daily breakfast consumption, consumption of fruit at least once a day and sleep for at least 8 hours a day. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Regular participation in physical education classes, vigorous physical activity, consumption of breakfast and fruit every day, as well as sleep for at least 8 hours a day are powerful predictors of high scores on self-rated health of 15-year-old adolescent girls. Public health activities aimed at adolescents should focus on the positive aspects of health and a lifestyle paying special attention on pro health behaviours.

Physical activity, BMI and body weight perception among 15-year-old boys and girls in Poland in the light of international comparisons.

BACKGROUND: The wrong subjective assessment of body mass may have consequences for the health, quality of life and proper functioning of adolescents in society. AIM: The purpose of the study is to provide a detailed analysis of the discrepancies between the objective and subjective assessment of body mass by 15-year-old boys and girls in Poland against the background of international statistics and to assess the effect of physical activity on the level and directions of these discrepancies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The data concerned 72037 schoolchildren from 42 countries, including 1484 in Poland. The measure of objective body mass was the BMI categorized according to Cole's criteria. Research focused on the relation between the mean BMI and the subjective perception of their body mass by adolescents and the discrepancy in this assessment. In addition, the level of physical activity (MVPA) was taken into account. RESULTS: In Poland the percentage of adolescents with overweight was lower than the international average and amounted to 12.3% vs. 15.2%. The percentage of 15-year-old boys with overweight in Poland is nearly three times higher than girls of the same age (18.7% vs. 6.5%) and is at the mean level for Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) countries. According to international statistics, the percentage of adolescents who consider themselves overweight is 32.7%, which is two times higher than the percentage of actual excess body weight. Polish girls are systematically first in the ranking of those who consider themselves too fat. It was demonstrated that Polish girls with a normal BMI for their age who consider themselves too fat are on average slimmer than their peers in other countries. There is a correlation between Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) and the accuracy of self-assessment of body mass and the type of mistakes made in that assessment, which is more clearly marked among boys. CONCLUSION: There are clear geographical and cultural differences in the level of discrepancies between the objective and subjective assessment of body mass among teenagers. Physical activity modifies these discrepancies.

Perceived barriers for physical activity in overweight and obese adolescents and their association with health motivation.

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.

Polish Adaptation And Validation Of The Physical Appearance Comparison Scale (Pacs) - An Analysis Among Young People In Late Adolescence In The Context Of Obesity.

INTRODUCTION: The PACS scale is a tool which is widely used in foreign studies to evaluate the tendency towards appearance comparisons in social situations. People inclined to make such comparisons reveal a higher level of dissatisfaction with their body and a higher inclination towards problem eating. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The main purpose of the study was to adapt the PACS scale. A factor structure assessment and reliability analysis of the Polish version was carried out. The correlation between PACS and pubertal development indicators, the body mass index and psycho-social factors and eating behaviours were evaluated as part of the validity analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The data were derived from the Internet-based study of problem eating behaviours conducted by the Institute of Mother and Child during the 2014/2015 school year. The analyses covered 1285 second grade upper secondary school students (47.2% boys). The mean age was 17.59 years (SD=0.39). An exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis of the PACS questionnaire was performed. Using the Kruskal-Wallis test or the Pearson's r correlation, the association between (PACSPL) and perceived pubertal timing, BMI, the body image (BIS), self-perception of body mass, self-esteem (RSES), self-esteem in social relations (SPPA-SSE), problem eating behaviours (TFEQ-13) were evaluated. The linear regression method was used to estimate the impact of PACS-PL on selected variables in the BMI groups in order to investigate of the moderation effect. RESULTS: The shortened 3-item Polish version of the scale (PACS-PL) was considered optimal. It is characterized by high reliability (Cronbach's α=0.868), and the main factor explains 79.1% of the variance of the scale results. The model also shows high values of fit indicators: χ2 = 1.144 (df=1, p=0.285), GFI=0.999, AGFI=0.996, CFI=1.000, NFI=0.999, TLI-1.000, RMSEA=0.011. Girls display a stronger tendency to compare their appearance with others. The PACS-PL scale demonstrates the expected correlations with developmental, psycho-social and behavioural factors, this correlation being stronger among girls. It was also shown that the PACS-PL index is a stronger predictor of dissatisfaction with the body and lower self-esteem in the group of obese adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: The Polish version of the scale, PACS-PL, is a reliable and valid tool for evaluating the tendency to compare one's appearance with others in late adolescence. The subject of social comparison ought to become an element of prevention activities associated with acceptance of one's body and selfesteem, especially among young people with excess body weight.

Is a Perceived Activity-Friendly Environment Associated with More Physical Activity and Fewer Screen-Based Activities in Adolescents?

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.

Results From Poland's 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth.

BACKGROUND: Poland's 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth is the first assessment of child and youth physical activity (PA) in Poland using the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance grading system. The main goal was to summarize and describe the current state of child and youth PA to increase awareness and surveillance. METHODS: The systematic methodology that underpins the Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card was adapted and applied to the Polish report card. The best available data were consolidated, reviewed by a group of experts, and used to assign the letter grades to 9 core PA indicators on a scale ranging from A (highest) to F (lowest). RESULTS: The 9 indicators were graded as such: 1) Overall Physical Activity (D), 2) Organized Sport Participation (C), 3) Active Play (INC), 4) Active Transportation (C), 5) Sedentary Behaviors (D), 6) Family and Peers (C), 7) School (B), 8) Community and the Built Environment (C), and 9) Government Strategies and Investments (C). CONCLUSIONS: The final grades show a strong role of school in providing PA for children and youth in Poland. However, promotion of school-based sport participation appears to be insufficient by itself to sustainably promote PA in this group.

Behavioural factors enhancing mental health - preliminary results of the study on its association with physial activity in 15 to 16 year olds.

INTRODUCTION: Reliable information on the influence of behavioural factors on adolescent mental health may help to implement more effective intervention programmes. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine whether physical activity influences the variability of selected indices of mental health. METHODS: The study comprised 2,015 students aged 15-16, who were investigated as part of the HBSC survey (Health Behaviour in School-aged Children) in the 2013/14 school year. The dependent variable was the mental health index GHQ-12 (0-36 points) and its two domains (social dysfunction, anxiety and depression). Physical activity was measured with the MVPA (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity). Multivariable linear models were estimated, with overall GHQ index and partial indices as dependent variables. RESULTS: Adolescents reported a mean GHQ-12 score of 12.57 (±7.06). In a multivariable analysis, the pressure with school work along with gender resulted to be the main GHQ-12 predictors. School achievements and a high level of physical activity were identified as strong protective factors. Taking into account other factors, the GHQ-12 index falls by 2.13 points when comparing adolescents with an extremely low and high MVPA. Protective effect of physical activity appeared to be stronger in small towns and villages than in big cities and was more visible in the domain of social dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity remains an important predictor of mental health, even when the impact of sociodemographic and environmental factors as well as the respondents' school achievements are considered. Researches of such types, taking into account more complex determinants, wider behavioural factors' spectre as well as other outcome measures connected with teenagers' mental condition, should be continue.