[The level of anxiety and locus of control in women deciding to start a weight loss programme]. / Poziom leku oraz poczucie kontroli u kobiet decydujacych sie na rozpoczecie kuracji odchudzajacej.

UNLABELLED: Characteristic for an individual and a relatively constant level of anxiety and internal or external locus of control are personality dimensions that influence the biopsychosocial functioning of an individual and are reflected in his experience and behaviour. AIM: The aim of this study was to analyse the level of anxiety in women deciding to start a weight loss programme and to find the relationship between the locus of control and the intensity of this anxiety. METHOD: Sixty seven women participating in a group-based, interdisciplinary educational weight loss programme were examined using the Locus of Control Questionnaire (Drwal) and the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, Strelau, Tysarczyk & Wrzesniewski). The average age of the subjects was 42.88 +/- 10.96 and the average body mass index was 35.98 +/- 5.66. RESULTS: The level of Anxiety as a State averaged at 5 +/- 2, the level of Anxiety as a Trait averaged at 5 +/- 1.55 and the result in the Locus of Control Questionnaire averaged 7 +/- 1.57. There was a correlation between: age and BMI, (r=0.33; p<0.05), age and state of anxiety (r=0.25; p<0.01), state of anxiety and trait of anxiety (r=0.60; p<0.05), state of anxiety and locus of control (r= 0.41; p<0.05), trait of anxiety and locus of control (r=0.35; p<0.05). In the group of women with lowest BMI their age was also significantly lower than in the other groups. There were no other differences correlating with age across the examined variables. CONCLUSIONS: The level of Anxiety (as a State and as a Trait) in women deciding to start a weight loss programme did not differ from the general population. 1. The results in the Locus of Control Questionnaire were higher than the general population--that means a more external locus of control. 2. There was no correlation between BMI and the level of anxiety or the locus of control. 3. There was a correlation between the locus of control and the anxiety level (state and trait).

[Differences in eating habits and self-care behavior in a group of obese people before and after the weight loss program]. / Róznice dotyczace nawykow zywieniowych oraz dbalosci o siebie w grupie osób otylych przed i po kuracji odchudzajacej.

UNLABELLED: In common beliefs the care of obese people for their health and appearance is not sufficient, which is both the cause and the result of their obesity. The aim of the present study was to check whether obese and normal weight persons are different in selected behaviours connected with eating and self-care, and also whether providing them with knowledge about the desired behaviour changes would improve the effects of weight loss. Authors used structured interview of 20 limited questions. The participants were 32 obese women taking part in group weight loss programme organized in "Waga" treatment center in Katowice. The measures were taken before and after the programme. The comparing group constituted women of normal body weight. Obese women before the treatment comparing to normal weight women, presented more disadvantageous behaviours in the range of: fast eating and reaching for the food in time of strain (p < 0.01). As a results of the weight loss programme they achieved a significant weight loss (p < 0.01) and also the frequency of their unprofitable behaviours decreased except for putting other's needs in front of their own, skipping breakfast and eating daily no more than two meals. Statistically significant improvements were observed in: greater physical activity, greater care for appearance and meals aesthetics (p < 0.01) as well as better ability to relax and profitable lengthen of meal time (p < 0.05). After the treatment patients declared more beneficial behaviours than the normal weight group. There were statistically significant differences in: ability to relax and avoiding to combine wrong meal ingredients (p < 0.01). Obese reached for the food in time of strain still more often, but less often than at the beginning of the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The results did not show significant difference between obese and normal weight participants concerning eating habits and self-care behaviour. The exception was that obese women reached for food more often in the situations of strain and stress. The weight loss of the participants cannot be attributed solely to the change in their behaviour, but could be influenced also by group support and/or by emotional, cognitive and social changes. It might serve as a starting point for further investigations. Researching the long term effects of the treatment (how permanent is the alteration in the participants' weight and self-care behaviour) seems to be essential to answer those questions.

[Prophylaxis of nutrition disturbances project "Time for Health"]. / Program profilaktyki zaburzen odzywiania "Czas na Zdrowie".

More than half of girls and women treat themselves as obese persons. It is connected with the ideal of slimness, predominating in our culture. The consequences of this cult of slimness involve more and more frequent disturbances in nutrition. Problems, which are the basis for obesity, anorexia and bulimia cannot be related merely to nutrition, weight and body size issues. They are indissolubly connected with low self-esteem, difficulties in one's identity as well as with a lack of interpersonal relation satisfactions. The presented project's aim is prophylaxis concerning nutrition disturbances. It is addressed to girls at the age of 14 and 15. According to the project, classes are organized for the 1st and 2nd year students of secondary schools. The program includes eight meetings devoted to the questions which are significant elements of creating positive image of self-image, a feeling of one's identity as well as developing abilities to make independent opinions and decisions. These factors may prevent girls from following trends e.g. connected with the cult of slimness.

["Heart attack in humans"--the health belief model in comparison with the health reality of patients with myocardial infarction]. / "Czlowiek w zawale"--system prezentowanego modelu zdrowia w konfrontacji z rzeczywistoscia zdrowotna osób z zawalem miesnia sercowego.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is the direct cause of 40% of all deaths, independently of the high standard of medical treatment. The main aim of the study was to define the relationship between the declarative health model (declarations) and the real health activity of the sufferers (realization). The research was performed on 107 patients after acute MI, hospitalized in the Cardiology Department Medical University of Silesia. They were questioned in direct interviews. In addition, the modified form of Shalit's circle was applied. The results indicated the coexistence of two health models of patients. In declarations, there is a model of person with interior attribution of MI (90.65%) that has a feeling of ability to influence his/her health (e.g. through the lifestyle: 63.55%; an individual's character: 41.12%). In realization, there is a model of sick patient with exterior attribution of heart attack (e.g. political and economic crisis, innate predisposition). A similar tendency in the perception of health factors and planning of changes after MI was observed. For instance, 50.47% patients talked about "the increase caution" or "slowing down" as a new planned form of activity. Moreover, of 92% patients who have the social support only 33.64% consider that as an important factor for health. The results suggest a divergence between declarations and real health activity. The launched health model of beliefs seems to be too costly and not attractive enough. Taking into consideration the complete risk factors in MI and making the proposed health belief system more accessible seem to be essential for creating an adequate prevention program.

[Patients' opinions about the reasons for their heart attacks in the context of their health belief models--a preliminary report]. / Opinie pacjentów po zawalach serca na temat przyczyn wystapienia zawalu w kontekscie przyjetego przez nich modelu przekonan zdrowotnych--doniesienia z badan pilotazowych.

The importance of psychological factors in Myocardial Infarction (MI) is well documented. The aim of the study was to define a relationship between the perception of the reasons for MI and real health activity of the sufferers, in order to prepare an adequate psychological intervention. 30 patients after acute MI hospitalized in the Cardiology Department were included to the study. They were questioned in directed interviews. The modified form of Shalit's Circle was used to infer the model of health activity. Perceived reasons for the heart attack (first in 67% cases) appeared as a manifold area, which was divided into eight categories: stressful situations and occurrences (66.67%), an individual's character (40%), lifestyle (36.67%), connected illnesses 36.67%), genetics (20%), age (13.33%), weather (10%), "spontaneous" heart attack (6.67%). The results indicated exterior attribution of MI (e.g. political and economic crisis, innate predisposition, loss of relatives). Similar tendency in the planning of changes after heart attack was observed. For instance 43.33% patients just said they planed to restrict or give up their previous sickness-promoting behaviour, 33.33% talked laconically about "the increase of caution" or "slowing down" and only 26.67% intended to undertake new forms of activity. These opinions illustrate the general model of health beliefs (in declarations and realization), which seems to be of very limited use (or even disadvantageous) with regard to the future. Moreover, the contemporary clinical conditions are conducive to such model. Modern medical methods of treatment reduce the time spent by patients in hospital, thereby reducing the hospitalization stress. On the other hand it limits or even eliminates the most important part of treatment--the "doctor-patient" relationship. Because of the limited number of subjects a further research is needed to combine the psychological intervention aimed at health behaviour change with the high standard of cardiology treatment those patients are being given now. The psychological program should tackle emotional and social costs of heart attack and strive to change patients' health belief system.