Association of sports and physical activity with obesity among teenagers in Poland

Objectives The purpose of the study was to assess the relationship between the body mass index and sports and physical activities in an unbiased, simple, random sample of teenagers from mid-northeastern Poland. Material and Methods Children and adolescents aged 10–19 years old were surveyed. The In...

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Main Authors: Bożena Glinkowska, Wojciech M. Glinkowski
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine 2018-12-01
Series:International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.journalssystem.com/ijomeh/Association-of-sport-and-physical-activity-with-obesity-among-teenagers-in-Poland,85059,0,2.html
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author Bożena Glinkowska
Wojciech M. Glinkowski
author_facet Bożena Glinkowska
Wojciech M. Glinkowski
author_sort Bożena Glinkowska
collection DOAJ
description Objectives The purpose of the study was to assess the relationship between the body mass index and sports and physical activities in an unbiased, simple, random sample of teenagers from mid-northeastern Poland. Material and Methods Children and adolescents aged 10–19 years old were surveyed. The Internet-based survey was conducted to collect information on physical activity, leisure time, studying hours, weight, and height. Results Obesity was found to be low in the study population. The overall prevalence of overweight was not higher than 8%. Only 0.6% of participants were underweight. Overall, 68% of them confirmed participating in sports. Boys were frequently more active than girls (> 70% boys and > 60% girls). Participants mostly played soccer, volleyball, handball, or basketball (30.5%); 7% of them practiced martial arts and 16.5% of them participated in swimming. Sports activity significantly influenced body mass index. Obesity was not related to the lack of participation for physical activity in girls but a significant relationship was observed in boys (p < 0.02). The risk of obesity or overweight for inactive teenagers increased 2-fold (p < 0.01). Conclusions We report the overall participation of teenagers from 2 cities in mid-northeastern Poland in sports and physical activities and demonstrate that the lack of statistically significant differences in the body mass index and obesity and overweight is prevalent among boys and girls. Obesity was significantly related to less physical activity in boys, and the likelihood of obesity or overweight increased in inactive teenagers. Thus, we suggest that the importance of overweight and obesity prevention programs should be emphasized. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2018;31(6):771–782
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spelling doaj.art-833e66fb75194c4292f68b6abef2cc1d2022-12-21T18:29:36ZengNofer Institute of Occupational MedicineInternational Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health1232-10871896-494X2018-12-0131677178210.13075/ijomeh.1896.0117085059Association of sports and physical activity with obesity among teenagers in PolandBożena Glinkowska0Wojciech M. Glinkowski1Medical University of Warsaw, Warszawa, Poland (Department of Sports and Physical Education)Polish Telemedicine and eHealth Society, Warszawa, PolandObjectives The purpose of the study was to assess the relationship between the body mass index and sports and physical activities in an unbiased, simple, random sample of teenagers from mid-northeastern Poland. Material and Methods Children and adolescents aged 10–19 years old were surveyed. The Internet-based survey was conducted to collect information on physical activity, leisure time, studying hours, weight, and height. Results Obesity was found to be low in the study population. The overall prevalence of overweight was not higher than 8%. Only 0.6% of participants were underweight. Overall, 68% of them confirmed participating in sports. Boys were frequently more active than girls (> 70% boys and > 60% girls). Participants mostly played soccer, volleyball, handball, or basketball (30.5%); 7% of them practiced martial arts and 16.5% of them participated in swimming. Sports activity significantly influenced body mass index. Obesity was not related to the lack of participation for physical activity in girls but a significant relationship was observed in boys (p < 0.02). The risk of obesity or overweight for inactive teenagers increased 2-fold (p < 0.01). Conclusions We report the overall participation of teenagers from 2 cities in mid-northeastern Poland in sports and physical activities and demonstrate that the lack of statistically significant differences in the body mass index and obesity and overweight is prevalent among boys and girls. Obesity was significantly related to less physical activity in boys, and the likelihood of obesity or overweight increased in inactive teenagers. Thus, we suggest that the importance of overweight and obesity prevention programs should be emphasized. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2018;31(6):771–782http://www.journalssystem.com/ijomeh/Association-of-sport-and-physical-activity-with-obesity-among-teenagers-in-Poland,85059,0,2.htmlsurveysportoverweightchildren and adolescentsbody mass indexcross sectional
spellingShingle Bożena Glinkowska
Wojciech M. Glinkowski
Association of sports and physical activity with obesity among teenagers in Poland
International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
survey
sport
overweight
children and adolescents
body mass index
cross sectional
title Association of sports and physical activity with obesity among teenagers in Poland
title_full Association of sports and physical activity with obesity among teenagers in Poland
title_fullStr Association of sports and physical activity with obesity among teenagers in Poland
title_full_unstemmed Association of sports and physical activity with obesity among teenagers in Poland
title_short Association of sports and physical activity with obesity among teenagers in Poland
title_sort association of sports and physical activity with obesity among teenagers in poland
topic survey
sport
overweight
children and adolescents
body mass index
cross sectional
url http://www.journalssystem.com/ijomeh/Association-of-sport-and-physical-activity-with-obesity-among-teenagers-in-Poland,85059,0,2.html
work_keys_str_mv AT bozenaglinkowska associationofsportsandphysicalactivitywithobesityamongteenagersinpoland
AT wojciechmglinkowski associationofsportsandphysicalactivitywithobesityamongteenagersinpoland