[Dietary and life-style habits of university students in Poland--empirical study]. / Wybrane elementy stylu zycia studentów wyzszych uczelni w swietle badan empirycznych.

The aim of the study was the analysis of selected elements students life styles: nutrition behavior, physical activity, cigarettes smoking, alcohol drinking as a background of coronary diseases development. The respondents (412 persons) were university students: 339 women and 79 men. On an average they were 20 years old. 204 persons were inhabitants of towns, 208--villages and small towns. The interviews were conducted in Warsaw and Olsztyn in 2002. In general, for students non-healthy nutrition behavior were characteristic: non-regular consumption of meals (about 50%)), low frequency vegetables and fruits consumption (about 50%), sporadic fishes consumption (about 40%), preferring butter (35%) and poor physical activity (about 50%). Positive aspects of students nutrition were: preferring of poultry (44%), high frequency of fruit juice and mineral water drinking (about 40%) and sporadic chips and fast-food consumption (about 80%). One can observe differences in regard to the place of living. Pro-healthy behavior were more disseminated among students living in towns. More of them consumed daily vegetables, fruit juices, preferred poultry, did not smoke cigarettes and were physically active in comparison with students living in villages and small towns. General conclusions: there is a necessity to create programmers of health education at universities.

[Nutrition behavior of poor families]. / Zachowania zywieniowe rodzin ubogich.

The aim of this study was analysis of nutrition behaviour of families with low income living in village and town. The interviews concerning socio-economical conditions, actual nutrition behaviour and selected health indicator of respondents were carried in 13 rural and 14 Warsaw families. Respondents were for the most part women 34-44 years old with elementary education. Rural families were mainly numerous families, half of Warsaw families consists of mother lonely bringing children up. The main sources of living were allowances from social welfare and rents. One can observe in both kinds of families pro-healthy nutrition behavior: daily drinking milk by children, frequent consumption of poultry, using margarine and vegetables oil, and in rural families eating breakfast and several meals everyday. Negative aspects of nutrition were: small consumption of vegetables and fruits, fishes, and in town also dairy products and insufficient number of daily meals. Half of respondents both in village and town has proper BMI index. One can observe in rural families more tendency toward healthy nutrition behavior than in Warsaw families. Modeling healthy nutrition behavior in poor families (especially in town) can be realised by centers of social welfare.

[Expectations regarding nutrition information on food product packages]. / Oczekiwania konsumentów wobec informacji zywieniowej umieszczanej na opakowaniach produktów spozywczych.

Food labeling was originally developed to help consumers make the right decision in choosing at food products. It (food labeling) is also helpful in consumer's education. The aim of this study was to analyze the consumers' preferences concerning foods' labeling products. The type and the form of the information and of course the information itself were analyzed. The study was carried out in the form of a questionnaire among 295 people who were the consumers of supermarkets. The only criteria for the chosen subjects were that they agree to take part in the study and that they are the heads of their families. It came out that 54% of the subjects accepted the current information about food products. More than 23% said that they didn't understand the information provided by the food labels. 66% said that food labels should have educational information concerning the role of an ingredient in health and nutrition. Everyone wanted "negative" information, for example: "this product is not recommended for..."). More than 87% stated that they want information like "this product is recommended for...". (That kind of preference doesn't go along with the current law concerning food products). The best motivation for using food labels is sickness or illness. 89% of the subjects said that the information about the food products and the nutritional value are more important than the information about the producer. Informations concerning the nutritional values in 100 g and in 1 portion of a product were easiest to understand for 71% of the subjects. The results of this study show that food labeling is very important form of consumers education.

[Knowledge about prevention of diabetes 2 among subscribers of health magazines]. / Wiedza na temat profilaktyki cukrzycy typu 2 wsród prenumeratorów czasopism o zdrowiu.

The aim of study was valuation of knowledge about risk factors and prevention of diabetes type 2. The respondents (1243 persons) were subscribers of magazine concerning health problems, 46 +/- 14 years old, 25% persons with high education, 59.9% with secondary and 13.7% with primary education. About 60% of respondents had knowledge concerning risk factors of diabetes type 2, although 33% person didn't know, that diabetes mostly depend on life styles. One can state that there were differences in regard to this problem between respondents which had sick persons in family in comparison with "healthy families". Respondents with high education had better knowledge concerning prevention, aetiology of diabetes in comparison with respondents with primary education. About 80% of respondents considered that essential factor in therapy of diabetes proper diet. Direct touch (contact) with disease is the most powerful factor motivating persons to extend the knowledge and modifier health behaviour. Main focus in health education of physicians should be put on their skills to motivate patients to modifier life styles.