Epidemiology of physical inactivity in Poland: Prevalence and determinants in a former communist country in socioeconomic transition

Drygas, W.; Kwaśniewska, M.; Kaleta, D.; Pikala, M.; Bielecki, W.; Głuszek, J.; Zdrojewski, T.; Pająk, A.; Kozakiewicz, K.; Broda, G.

doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2009.08.004

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Volume 123, Issue 9 , Pages 592-597, September 2009

Epidemiology of physical inactivity in Poland: Prevalence and determinants in a former communist country in socioeconomic transition

W. Drygas
- Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Medical University of Łódź, Poland
- Department of Epidemiology, Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland
M. Kwaśniewska
- Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Medical University of Łódź, Poland
- Corresponding author. Department of Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Łódź, ul. Żeligowskiego 7/9 90-752 Łódź, Poland. Tel.: +48 42 639 32 65; fax: +48 42 639 32 18.
D. Kaleta
- Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Medical University of Łódź, Poland
M. Pikala
- Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Medical University of Łódź, Poland
W. Bielecki
- Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Medical University of Łódź, Poland
J. Głuszek
- Department of Hypertension, Vascular and Internal Diseases, Institute of Cardiology, Medical University, Poznań, Poland
T. Zdrojewski
- Department of Hypertension and Diabetes, Medical University, Gdańsk, Poland
A. Pająk
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Research, Institute of Public Health, Collegium Medicum, Kraków, Poland
K. Kozakiewicz
- Department of Cardiology, Medical University, Katowice, Poland
G. Broda
- Department of Epidemiology, Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland

Received 13 March 2009; received in revised form 30 July 2009; accepted 10 August 2009. published online 09 September 2009.

Summary

Objectives

The aim of this study was to identify physical activity patterns and determinants of physical inactivity in a representative sample of Polish adults.

Study design

A cross-sectional analysis of 14 769 randomly selected individuals (52.7% women and 47.3% men) aged 20–74 years participating in the National Polish Health Survey, WOBASZ (2002–2005).

Methods

Sociodemographic and lifestyle details were collected. Assessment of physical activity was based on selected questions from the CINDI Health Monitor Questionnaire.

Results

Approximately 35% of Polish adults are not physically active in leisure time, whilst 39.5% declare sufficient level of leisure-time physical activity. Leisure-time inactivity is significantly less likely in persons aged <35 years, those with university education and those living in rural areas. Almost 48% of men and 28.4% of women employed full- or part-time report highly active work, whilst sedentary work is reported by 42.7% of women and 30.2% of men. Low occupational activity is more prevalent in young adults, persons with university education and those living in large urban areas. Nearly 67% of the entire working population report no active commuting.

Conclusions

There is a need to promote various forms of physical activity, with special attention on active commuting and leisure-time activities across both genders and all age groups. Public health policies and programmes should focus on substantial differences between various sociodemographic groups.

Keywords: Physical inactivity, Leisure time, Work-related, Occupational, Commuting, Poland