Objective: To examine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Polish adolescents in 2005 using both the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut-offs and a national reference; to compare this to data collected in 1995; and to assess whether there were differences in overweight or obesity by gender and place of residence in 1995-2005. Design: BMI was calculated from measured height and weight, collected in a cross-sectional study in five regions of Poland in 2005. Adolescents were categorised as normal, overweight or obese based on IOTF cut-off values, and by national weight for stature tables, where the 90th and 97th percentiles were used as cut-off values for overweight and obesity. Setting: Population-based study set in Poland. Subjects: A two-stage sampling method was used to recruit 8065 pupils (3980 boys and 4085 girls) aged 13-15 years. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 12?5 % and 1?9 %, respectively. No significant gender differences were found, either in overweight or obesity. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in 2005 had increased 2 % compared to 1995. Overweight and obesity among adolescents were not related to urban-rural residence, but there were significant regional differences. Conclusions: Monitoring trends in overweight and obesity among adolescents in all regions of Poland using the same reference criteria is important. Since regional differences in overweight and obesity rates among adolescents were observed both in 1995 and 2005, future research should investigate the potential causes of these differences. KeywordsObesity Overweight Adolescents Gender Regional differences Puberty constitutes a critical period of life when adolescents are particularly prone to development of obesity (1,2) . Several studies have suggested that up to 80 % of overweight adolescents will become obese adults (3,4) . Thus, the incidence of overweight and obesity among adolescents is of public health concern and should be closely monitored.A study carried out in Poland in 1995 on a population of two million schoolchildren and adolescents aged 6-17 years in almost all regions of Poland revealed gender and regional differences (5) . The present study population was divided into five age groups: 6-7, 9-10, 14-15 and 16-17 years. There were 439 262 adolescents in the age group of 14-15 years. School nurses measured their height and weight. The national charts of weight for stature for boys and girls were used. Pupils above the 90th percentile were identified as overweight and those above the 97th percentile as obese (5) .In the age group of 14-15 years, the prevalence of overweight (including obesity) was 8?9 % for the whole sample, 7?8 % for boys and 9?9 % for girls (P , 0?001). The prevalence of obesity was 3?8 %; 3?5 % for boys and 4?1 % for girls (P , 0?001). The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the whole study population (all age groups) was higher in urban (9?4 %) than in rural areas (7?1 %; P , 0?001). The highest overweight rate was reported in the Podlaskie region ...

Introduction

No abstract

Introduction. Schools are important settings for the promotion of healthy diet and sufficient physical activity to prevent civilisation diseases related to lifestyle. Objective. To describe school physical activity and nutrition environment in elementary schools in Poland, and to asses differences in school physical activity and nutrition environments, depending on school location and size. Materials and method. Data was used from the World Health Organisation European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) conducted in 2016 in 135 Polish schools. Logistic regression was used to asses association between the location and individual school environment indicator. On the basis of answers to 20 questions about school physical activity and nutrition environment, a positive school environmental assessment index was compiled. Results. Large, urban schools were characterised by a significantly greater availability of sweet snacks, whereas flavoured milk with added sugar was more often available in small and rural schools. The univariate logistics analysis parameters showed that an urban-rural location had a significant association for the availability of an indoor gym and existence of a canteen and a shop. Analysing the positive schools environmental assessment index, there were no statistically significant differences in mean values due to location, but statistically significant differences were found depending on the school size, with the highest level in large schools and the lowest in small schools. Conclusions. The factor which adversely differentiates the school environment in terms of healthy nutrition and physical activity is primarily the school size, and then the school location. Systemic and social solutions should aim at reducing the small school "exclusion syndrome", both in rural and in urban areas, also with regard to infrastructure and availability of conditions conducive to healthy nutrition and physical activity.

No abstract

No abstract