Cross-sectional study of physical activity of adult population in South-Moravian area of the Czech republic

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) was defined in a worldwide scientific community as one of the most important factors in dealing with issues of prevention and public health. Regular PA has the undeniable positive effects on health, quality of life and renewal of an active old age. Improved conditions for active leisure time activities and active transport at the regional level can lead to the improvement of the regular participation in the PA AIM: The aim of the study was to analyze physical activity of adult population of the Southern Moravia area of the Czech Republic (Jihomoravský and Zlínský region) and to observe differences in selected demographic aspects of active transport depending on environmental conditions. METHODS: To estimate the weekly level of PA we used randomized data in 1110 respondents in Southtern Moravia region (487 men and 623 women) aged 41.67 ± 8.87 years. All respondents were asked face to face by trained distributors (university students) to participate in a research study using the Czech administrative version of the ANEWS questionnaire. Data collection was carried out regularly in Spring (March-May) and Fall (September-November) from 2005 to 2009. Health enhancing PA is characterized in accordance with the general recommendations. Adults should do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity or 75 minutes a week of vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous intensity aerobic activity. Aerobic activity should be performed in episodes of at least 10 minutes, and preferably it should be spread throughout the week (USDHHS, 2008). RESULTS: The total weekly PA did not affect either participation in organized PA or body mass index. Respondents who met the recommendations for PA reported significantly higher total PA and transport PA. People who have easy walking distances to many sites directly from home indicate higher transport PA. The most commonly performed type of the PA was cycling, followed in women with walking and hiking, and in men with soccer. CONCLUSION: Once there are opportunities, it is necessary to maintain and expand the environmental conditions to support active transport. Comunal policy in the various regions in the Czech Republic must solve specific regional problems within their environment and to highlight attractive places for active living. They also have to look for ways how to transfer research results into practice on the level of communal practice, preventive, health, and also urban interventions.

Keywords

• ANEWS questionnaire
• IPAQ
• sitting
• physical activity recommendation
• active transport