BACKGROUNDThis study investigates school lifestyle among adolescents in terms of physical activity (PA) structure: (1) adolescents participating in a physical education lesson (PEL) versus (2) aggregate recess time exceeding 60 minutes.METHODSThe research was conducted in 24 secondary schools in the Czech Republic (boys N = 208, girls N = 433). For the whole day (1-3 days) participants wore the ActiTrainer accelerometer, which monitored PA, and heart rate. A total of 1122 school days were recorded.RESULTSBoth boys and girls participating in a PEL reported significantly better results compared with nonparticipating individuals regarding all indicators of volume and intensity of school PA (SPA). In most SPA indicators, longer aggregate recess time (>60 minutes) had a statistically significant effect, particularly on the volume of SPA. The recommended 500 steps/hours for SPA was achieved by 83% of boys participating in PEL and 69% of girls. In contrast just 32% of nonparticipating boys and 31% of girls reached this level. With longer recess time the recommendation was met by 43% of boys (42% of girls) compared with 26% of boys (23% of girls) with shorter recess time.CONCLUSIONSAn increase in SPA and an improved lifestyle in adolescents on school days are significantly supported more by PELs than by longer recess time.

ObjectivesThis study examines whether moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), in at least 30-min school breaks (SB), helps to achieve the health-related amount of daily physical activity (PA) and whether these exercises influence after-school PA.MethodsThe ActiTrainer-based PA was monitored over two school days in 239 children aged from 9 to 10 (57.3% female; 20.1% overweight, and 19.2% obese), in Katowice, in February 2010. PA was assessed based on steps, heart rate, and duration of PA.ResultsMVPA, for 30 min during SB, represented an average of 1,258 steps for overweight girls and 1,620 steps for boys, and 1,336 steps for non-overweight girls and 1,758 steps for boys. Children with 30 min of MVPA during SB attained a higher daily amount of steps (p < 0.001) and duration of overall PA (p < 0.01), in comparison with less physically active children.ConclusionThe daily 30 min of MVPA during SB amounts to 12.5% of the overall number of steps for girls and 16.3% for boys, thus contributing to higher school PA and overall PA and leading to the achievement of the health-related minimum of PA.

The decline of physical activity (PA) in adults as well as children and youth is a worldwide phenomenon. The aim of this study is to analyse the amount of PA in Czech university students’ daily lives. The research on university students was conducted as part of nationwide research on PA in the adult population of the Czech Republic. A total of 906 students at eight selected universities were asked to participate in this study. The response rate was 79.5%. We analysed data from 641 university students: 318 male [mean age 21.63 ± 1.73; mean Body Mass Index (BMI) 23.50 ± 1.91] and 323 female (mean age 21.08 ± 1.53; mean BMI 21.23 ± 2.20). The students wore Yamax SW-701 pedometers continuously for seven days. With respect to BMI, the recommendation of 10,000 steps per day on an average day was met by 76% of men and 68% of women of normal weight, 67% of male students who were overweight or obese and 85% of female students who were overweight or obese. Of all monitored days, in both females and males, the number of steps taken on Sunday was significantly lower (p < 0.0001) in comparison to other days of a week. No significant differences were found in the number of steps taken among students of normal weight, students who were overweight and students who were obese on any of the monitored days. The majority of Czech male university students are of normal weight. Only 9% of students meet the criterion of 10,000 steps every day. Approximately two-thirds of students meet the 10,000 steps daily criterion on four or more days per week. The lowest number of steps is taken on Sundays; this finding supports the need for intervention programmes to enhance PA on weekends.

BackgroundTo assess the effect of brisk walking on postural stability, bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition in women over 50 years of age with a sedentary occupation.MethodsA 10-week walking intervention based on self-regulated brisk walking (BW) to or from work of 30–35 min at least 5 times per week. The research included a total of 104 women (58 women in intervention group). The mean center of pressure (COP) velocity in medial-lateral and anterior-posterior directions, mean total COP velocity with eyes open and closed, BMD of the distal forearm and the calcaneus, body weight, fat mass, and lean body mass were assessed.ResultsThe BW intervention was completed by 76 % of participants. A significant effect (time × group interaction) was confirmed only in the mean COP velocity in the anterior-posterior direction with eyes closed (F = 7.41, P = 0.008). The effect of BW was not confirmed in BMD, body weight, or body composition. The results indicate that the effect of the intervention is influenced by baseline body mass index in body weight, fat mass and visceral adipose tissue.ConclusionsBW prevents the deterioration of postural stability with eyes closed, which can have a direct effect on reducing the risk of falls under worse spatial orientation and visibility. The presented intervention model is insufficient for weight loss, changes in BMD, or body composition, and its effect should be assessed during a longer period of time.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register DRKS00007638, registered March 10, 2015 (retrospectively registered).

BACKGROUND The aim of the study is to analyze the associations between depressive symptoms (DS), well‐being and different types of physical activity (PA) in adolescents. METHODS Overall, 368 girls and 228 boys aged 15‐19 years were involved in the research. To explore the composition of weekly PA, we used the IPAQ‐Long questionnaire, and a pedometer was used to monitor weekly PA. The prevalence of DS was diagnosed by the Bern Subjective Well‐Being Questionnaire and the WHO‐5 Well‐Being Index. RESULTS The girls and boys who reported the most DS and the lowest level of well‐being had significantly less weekly recreational PA. The girls who reported the fewest DS had a 2.12 times greater odds of meeting the 11,000 steps/day recommendation than did the girls with the most DS, whereas we did not detect statistically significant differences in rates of meeting the recommendation in the boys with distinct levels of DS. CONCLUSIONS The study confirms the stronger negative associations between DS and PA, especially among girls. The greatest opportunities for behavioral change in adolescents at the highest risk of DS are in the promotion of recreational PA.

The Polish educational model seems to be more effective for enhancing higher levels of PA among youth, as it provides pupils with a wider offer of organized PA. Girls were found to be less active than boys at high PA intensities in both countries, therefore, more effort must be put on involving them in organized PA.

Introduction and objective. The physical, mental and social development that occurs in young people through physical activity (PA) is primarily through extracurricular activities. Family, peers and social environment, in addition to schools, interest groups and school sports, play a unique role during this developmental period. The objective of the study was to examine the differences in the intensity of PA during school days and weekends and the relationship between PA and physical inactivity (PI) during these days in Polish and Czech boys and girls. Materials and methods. In total, there were 816 participants among whom 333 met the requirements of 8 hours of continuous recording of PA (ActiTrainer accelerometers) during at least one school and one weekend day. Results. Boys and girls from both countries engaged in virtually the same amount of PA during school and weekend days, and participated in more PA at lower intensities on the weekends compared with school days. Conclusions. This study surveyed important issues related to global public health, specifically for the school environment and school settings. The important and crucial relations with family were emphasized, which should increase the awareness and understanding of public health problems of this particular research sample. The results indicated that less time was spent in PI, but also that the largest amount of time during the weekends was spent in front of a screen.

Observation of trends in physical education plays an integral role in motor-development diagnostics and in encouraging physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. This study aims to elucidate the current state of and trends in pupils' assessments of physical education lessons (PELs) in different education systems in the context of self-perception of physical fitness. The research was conducted during PELs taught by student teachers at primary schools and high schools in the Czech Republic and in Poland. Schools were selected annually between 2000 and 2011 according to the