Diet and Physical Activity as Determinants of Lifestyle Chosen by Women from Southern Poland

Agnieszka Ostachowska-Gasior, Emilia Kolarzyk, Renata Majewska, Anna Gasior, Jacek Kwiatkowski and Izabela Zaleska
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Agnieszka Ostachowska-Gasior: Department of Hygiene and Dietetics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 7 Kopernika St., Krakow 31-034, Poland
Emilia Kolarzyk: Department of Hygiene and Dietetics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 7 Kopernika St., Krakow 31-034, Poland
Renata Majewska: Department of Epidemiology, Chair of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 7A Kopernika St., Krakow 31-034, Poland
Anna Gasior: Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
Jacek Kwiatkowski: Department of Hygiene and Dietetics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 7 Kopernika St., Krakow 31-034, Poland
Izabela Zaleska: The Faculty of Motor Rehabilitation, University of Physical Education in Cracow, Jana Pawla II 78 Road, Krakow 31-571, Poland

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 10, 1-11

Abstract: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between the lifestyle of Polish women (characterized by the quality of diets and levels of reported physical activity) and their characteristics such as age, place of residence, physical activity at work or school, reported health status, and BMI. The sample consisted of 882 women from Southern Poland. Diet quality and the level of physical activity were evaluated by the Nutrition Beliefs Questionnaire established by the Polish Academy of Sciences. The lifestyle category (healthy, moderate, or unhealthy) was based on “Prohealthy Diet Index-10” and participant’s self-assessed physical activity during their leisure-time. The lifestyle category was significantly associated with age, BMI, physical activity at work/school, and health. Moderate lifestyle (high or moderate levels of physical activity combined with low prohealthy diet) was the most commonly found classification in examined women. Age (>35 years old) and overweight are the main factors determining unhealthy lifestyle behavior. Healthy lifestyle is more often chosen by the women from big cities. More intensive efforts should be undertaken to increase the knowledge and awareness of the health benefits of a healthy lifestyle. The main goal should be concentrated on increasing the level of physical activity, especially in leisure time, and promoting the tenets of a well-balanced diet.

Keywords: women health; lifestyle; physical activity; quality of diet; questionnaire (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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