PurposeThis paper concerns participation of Poles aged 15+ years in leisure time and transport-related physical activity (PA) with a special focus on the life stages. The purpose of the paper was to analyze types of exercises, current and future behavior concerning PA, availability of sport and recreation facilities, and factors having the strongest relation with undertaking PA at a sufficient level according to pro-health recommendations of World Health Organization (WHO).Patients and methodsA survey was carried out on the representative sample (n=2,000). Respondents were classified in accordance to their life stages with a two-step cluster analysis. Relationships between meeting the dose of PA required for health recommendations and a membership in groups of life stages were evaluated using log-linear analysis. The strength of this relationship was expressed by the odds ratio. In order to capture relationships between meeting WHO recommendations and a set of explanatory variables, a predictive model was built.ResultsLife stages and various related events have a significant relation with a decrease of PA. Among groups of a particular risk, there are professionally active and unemployed people aged 50–64 years without children as well as retirees aged 65+ years who do not meet WHO recommendations (45.3; 50.4% and 47.6%). The unemployed and retirees more frequently (p<0.0001) do not or cannot practice sport and do not think that a change of their situation is expected soon. However, 35% of professionally active people aged 50–64 years without children and 18.2% of unemployed people declare that they are currently not active but if they had the possibility, they would start practicing sport.ConclusionCampaigns promoting PA should be targeted at groups of a particular risk. Any attempts of increasing PA or changing tendencies of its decrease should consider life conditions of these persons, as well as their needs, motivations, and barriers.

Introduction and objective. The aim of this study is to evaluate the leisure time physical activity of Polish farmers in the context of meeting health-related recommendations, and to diagnose the social and economic determinants. The analysis concerned leisure and transportation activities of various intensity and sedentary time. Materials and method. Farmers (n=153) aged over 18 were selected from a representative sample of Polish society (n=2039). In order to evaluate LTPA, the long version of the IPAQ was used. Statistically significant differences between the variables were tested using non-parametric tests. The relationship between the amount of exercise recommended by the WHO and studied socio-demographic criteria was assessed using log-linear analysis. Results. The WHO health recommendations were met by 33.3% of farmers. Shares in LTPA (19.1%) and transportation (19.2%) significantly increased the chance of achieving these norms (OR=12.54 and 0.07, respectively). Along with age (≥40 years) and income (≥3000 PLN/Є750) of Polish farmers, the risk of insufficient physical activity increased. Average MET-min/week for LTPA was 299.8±583.4 and transportation -521.2±1973.9. The average time of sitting during working days was 4.4±2.9, while it was 4.5±3.2 hrs/day during weekends. Conclusions. Health-promoting changes are necessary among Polish farmers, including an increase in the awareness of health benefits and the necessity of undertaking physically active ways of spending leisure time. It seems to be a legitimate action to develop a mini-tourist trail in the rural environment as a means of promoting physical activity also among women aged over 40, and from lower income groups, who are especially threatened by inactivity.

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Objective, the aim is an analysis of sociodemographic factors that had an essential relation with undertaking leisure-time physical activity—LTPA (with particular emphasis on World Health Organization (WHO) health recommendations) by adult Poles from a time-trend perspective. Methods, the paper is based on data retrieved from five large-scale surveys carried out on the representative samples of Poles aged 15–69 in 2014–2018 (n = 7347). In each wave, the Polish long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used. Results, the participation of Poles in LTPA constantly increases (p < 0.001) and the percentage of people meeting the dose of PA required for health recommendations is growing (on average, met by 43.9% of Polish men and 43.5% of women), which indicates a trend of behaviour of citizens of this country. The probability of realisation of WHO norms was determined by sex, age, place of residence and occupational status. Conclusion: it seems reasonable to develop Polish recommendations and guidelines for specific groups, including females and males, those who live in the villages and in the towns, different age groups: children/adolescents, adults (aged 50 to 59—most vulnerable to physical inactivity), the elderly, and various professional groups (especially farmers and physical workers).

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate physical activity of disabled individuals in the context of fulfilling the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations and to investigate the relationship between the risk of inactivity and activity of local authorities in this field. Material and methods:The sample consisted of 155 disabled individuals selected from a representative sample of the Polish society. The long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-LF) and the survey of the determinants of a sport activity among the Polish population were applied. The relationship between meeting the WHO recommendations and environmental factors were investigated.Results: According to the IPAQ-LF, 68.2% of the Polish disabled adults performed a recommended dose of physical activity during their leisure time. The total leisure activity was composed mainly of vigorous activities (58.8%), in a less extent of moderate activities (11.8%), and walking (7.2%). According to the survey of the sport activity determinants, 10.3% is active (0.7% exercises for ≥60 min 3 to 4 times a week, 3.9% per day).