Maintaining everyday life praxis in the time of COVID-19 pandemic measures (ELP-COVID-19 survey)

Background: The extreme social circumstances caused by declared COVID-19 pandemic deeply intervene people's everyday life and should not be neglected but seen through the view of social reality pinpointing the 'ordinary' people. In this article, authors explored basic segments of everyday and their subjective perception to what extent sleeping habits, physical inactivity, physical activity, nutritional habits and smoking have changed. Methods: The online survey was conducted in nine European countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo*, Italy, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain) in 4108 participants, aged 15-82 years. The survey took place 30-40 days after World Health Organization declared COVID-19 pandemic state, from 15 April to 3 May 2020. Results: The results have shown 30 min longer sleeping time, 50% longer physical inactivity time, 65% longer screen time, 43% shorter walking time, 24% shorter sport time and 37% longer physical work time. Additionally, body mass gains (0.3 kg) could be explained in 20.6% with meals sizes, unhealthy food consumption, screen time and sport time. Further, respondents reported more regular meals (44%) and healthier meals with less alcohol consumption and less smoking, which have been positive outcomes of home confinement. Conclusion: The findings draw attention to negative changes in everyday praxis (inactivity, body mass gain) after such a short period. Because of possible risk to population's health (especially of countries such as Italy and Spain with serious threat and more stringent measures), findings enable development of recommendations for maintaining healthy lifestyle habits with minimal negative health consequences in similar pandemic circumstances

Global matrix 4.0 physical activity report card grades for children and adolescents : results and analyses from 57 countries

Background: The Global Matrix 4.0 on physical activity (PA) for children and adolescents was developed to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the global variation in children’s and adolescents’ (5–17 y) PA, related measures, and key sources of influence. The objectives of this article were (1) to summarize the findings from the Global Matrix 4.0 Report Cards, (2) to compare indicators across countries, and (3) to explore trends related to the Human Development Index and geo-cultural regions. Methods: A total of 57 Report Card teams followed a harmonized process to grade the 10 common PA indicators. An online survey was conducted to collect Report Card Leaders’ top 3 priorities for each PA indicator and their opinions on how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted child and adolescent PA indicators in their country. Results: Overall Physical Activity was the indicator with the lowest global average grade (D), while School and Community and Environment were the indicators with the highest global average grade (C+). An overview of the global situation in terms of surveillance and prevalence is provided for all 10 common PA indicators, followed by priorities and examples to support the development of strategies and policies internationally. Conclusions: The Global Matrix 4.0 represents the largest compilation of children’s and adolescents’ PA indicators to date. While variation in data sources informing the grades across countries was observed, this initiative highlighted low PA levels in children and adolescents globally. Measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, local/international conflicts, climate change, and economic change threaten to worsen this situation

The comparison of selected lifestyle variables of first-year students at two universities in Košice

The objective of the presented paper was to compare the selected variables of lifestyle in first - year students at two universities in Košice. The research sample group consisted of the first - year students of the P. J. Šafá rik University in Košice (UPJŠ, n=918, 651 women and 267 men) and the Technical University in Košice (TUKE, n=653, 239 women and 414 men). We compiled our own test battery named “The risk factors of obesity and its prevention through physical activity” and administered it to students at the beginning of the respective academic years (September 2012 and September 2013). Presented paper focuses on questions related to: the students' satisfaction with their lifestyle, students expressing a need to change their lifestyle, frequency of structured physical activity, motivation to engage in structured physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and a structure of leisure activities. To process the collected data, we used the statistical software R. To test the signific ance of differences between the universities we used the Wilcoxon rank - sum test. N o significant difference between the universities was found on variables indicating the satisfaction with lifestyle. The most repeated lifestyle components that students of b oth universities would like to change were physical activity and dietary habits. These data reflect the findings that in the last half year over 61.5 % of UPJŠ students and 48.9 % of TUKE students were engaged in structured physical activity either irregul arly or they were not engaged in any structured physical activity at all. Another analysis of significant difference (p<0.001) between the two universities was employed to indicate the frequency with which students engaged in structured physical activity. The analysis revealed a higher frequency in students of TUKE. The analysis also confirmed that the gender of a respondent had a greater influence on that difference than the university they attended. The students of both universities indicated that figure (appearance), enjoyment, health and physical fitness were the main motivators for structured physical activity. The difference between the universities, with regard to variables indicating the time which students spent engaged in sedentary behaviours was s ignificant (p<0.001) during both working days and weekend days, where gender had no influence on this difference. Sedentary behaviours prevailed among the most common leisure activities in students of both universities. At the beginning of their university studies, lifestyle of a large number of first - year students at the two universities is characterized by the low level of engagement in structured physical activity and by sedentary leisure activities, with the existing differences between genders and the universities

Eating-Disordered Behavior in Adolescents: Associations with Body Image, Body Composition and Physical Activity

Eating disorders (EDs) represent a disparate group of mental health problems that significantly impair physical health or psychosocial functioning. The aim of this study was to present some evidence about the prevalence of eating-disordered behavior (EDB) in adolescents, and explore its associations with body image (BI), body composition (BC) and physical activity (PA) in this age group. Data from 780 adolescents participating in a health behavior in school-aged children (HBSC) study conducted in Slovakia in 2018 were used (mean age 13.5 &plusmn; 1.3; 56% boys). Differences in mean values of numerical indicators were evaluated using the independent samples t-test. Differences between nominal variables were assessed by the chi-square test. Pearson correlation was used to describe the associations between all the selected variables. EDB was positively screened in 26.7% (208/780) of adolescents, with a higher prevalence in girls (128/344, 37.2%) than in boys (80/436, 18.3%). Significantly higher means of BI, body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), body fat mass (BFM), body fat percentage (BFP), body fat mass index (BFMI), fat free mass index (FFMI), and SCOFF questionnaire score (SCOFF QS) were found in those positively screened for EDB. Pearson correlation analysis revealed positive associations between EDB and BI, BW, BMI, BFM, BFP and BFMI. The prevalence of EDB is high in Slovak adolescents. Positive associations between EDB, BI, BMI and fat-related body composition parameters support the idea of a more integrated approach in EDs and obesity prevention and treatment. At the same time, gender differences suggest the need for considering gender-specific strategies aimed at girls and boys separately

Association between potential parental and peers' correlates and physical activity recommendations compliance among 13-16 years old adolescents

Background: Regular physical activity (PA) is one of the most cited health protective factors for the prevention of the leading noncommunicable diseases. Four-fifths of adolescents are not reaching public health guidelines for recommended levels of PA globally. Understanding factors that influence PA can aid the design of more effective interventions. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the association between potential parental and peer correlates and PA recommendations compliance among 13-16 years old adolescents. Methods: We used nationally representative data originated from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey realized in 2014 in Slovakia. Data were obtained by questionnaires measuring potential parental and peers' correlates. Gender differences were assessed using chi square test. The associations between potential parental or peers' correlates and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) of adolescents were explored using logistic regression models adjusted for gender, age, and family affluence. Interaction of the effect of each parental and peer correlate with gender on MVPA was tested. Results: Prevalence of sufficient MVPA was higher among boys than among girls (p < .001). Boys reported more frequently than girls that their best friend does sport every week or that they used to play sport with parents at least once a week (p < .001). All explored variables representing potential parental and peers' correlates were significantly associated with sufficient MVPA of adolescents. However, only the association of a best friend and father doing sport every week and playing sport with parents remained significantly associated with sufficient MVPA of adolescents in mutually adjusted model. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that best friends and fathers may play role in PA behaviour of adolescents through behaviour modelling, and parents in general through tangible parental support (playing sport with children)

Body composition of undergraduates – comparison of four different measurement methods

The objective of this study was to determine body composition of university students using four different methods and to find out the extent of agreement between these methods regarding the measurement of body fat percentage in body composition. The study group consisted of 52 students of the P.J. Šafárik University in Košice (29 males and 23 females) whose average age was 22.4 ± 1.9. The study group was formed by convenience sampling. Basic somatometric parameters (body height and weight) were determined and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The body fat percentage was determined by indirect methods, that is by measuring skinfold thickness at 10 locations on the body using calliper Best II.K501 and by bioimpendance method using devices Bodystat 1500, Omron BF511 (tetra-polar electrode configuration) and Omron BF300 (bi-polar electrode configuration). Profile analysis based on one-sample Hotelling’s test with chi-squared approximation was used for assessing agreement among given four methods of body fat measurements. Statistical analysis of differences among methods was supplemented by the Bland-Altman graphical method with the Wilcoxon paired test. The whole statistical analysis was performed using Excel and software R. Hotteling’s Test (p < 2.2e-16) rejected the hypothesis of agreement between the methods. The greatest influence on this rejection was attributed to the Omron BF511 method. In addition, the results of Wilcoxon’s matched pairs test confirmed the difference of the Omron BF511 method from the other three measurement methods. Bland-Altman graphical analysis showed that the Omron BF511 provided clearly higher values in comparison to the three remaining measurement methods of body fat percentage. The skinfold measurement, the Omron BF300 and the Bodystat 1500 were almost identical. For all the indirect methods it is necessary to validate the accuracy of their measurements using reference methods for the current local population. The skinfold thickness measurement method by Pařízková meets this requirement. Based on our results, the values determined by the devices Omron BF300 and Bodystat 1500 can also be considered applicable. The Omron BF511 does not provide results that could be considered sufficiently accurate for the purposes of research. In order to verify this conclusion the larger group of probands (n = 100 - 300) and a method of repeated measurements would be necessary

Movement activity determination with health-related variables of university students in Kosice

There is currently a strong scientific evidence about the negative health consequences of physical inactivity. One of the potential tools for promoting physical activity at the institutional level of the Ecological model is to create conditions and settings that would enable pupils, students and employees engage in some form of physical activity. However, physical activities as a subject are being eliminated from the study programs at Slovak universities. The purpose of the study was to find current evidence about the level of structured physical activity and health-related variables in university students in Košice

First report card on physical activity for children and adolescents in Slovakia: a comprehensive analysis, international comparison, and identification of surveillance gaps

Abstract Background National surveillance of physical activity (PA) is essential to establish public health policy actions for PA promotion and evaluation, thereby promoting accountability. The main goal of this study is to comprehensively analyse surveillance data on PA behaviours, outcomes, and influencing factors among Slovakian children and adolescents by using the methodology of the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance Global Matrix (AHKGA-GM) project. Secondary goals are to provide comparisons with international data and the identification of surveillance gaps. Methods A comprehensive multilevel search strategy for data about 10 core indicators and 1 additional indicator published between 2015 and 2020 (solely pre-COVID-19-pandemic data) was used. The data were then synthesised, and a set of standardised benchmarks was used to assign grades according to The Global Matrix 4.0 Grading Rubric. Results A total of 552 potentially relevant data resources were retrieved, of which 34 were identified as eligible for data extraction. Grade B was assigned to four core indicators, grade C to five core indicators, and grade D to one core indicator. The additional Sleep indicator was graded a C–. Compared with the average grades from countries with high Human Development Index scores, Slovakia received higher grades in five core indicators (Overall Physical Activity, Active Transportation, Sedentary Behaviours, School, Government), and in the aggregate Behavioural average and Overall average. Compared with global averages, Slovakia had higher grades in the aforementioned core and aggregate indicators, and in the Community and Environment core indicator and aggregate Sources of Influence average indicator. Numerous surveillance gaps were identified. Conclusions The overall grading of the available surveillance data suggests the need for improvement in all 10 surveilled core indicators, and in additional Sleep indicator. Despite the fact that numerous identified surveillance gaps limit the overall informative value of the current grade, they provide the important information needed to enhance surveillance of PA-related indicators in Slovakia. For instance, the focus should be put on younger children and parents, on obtaining the device-measured data on various movement behaviours, on the topic of outdoor physical activities, and policy evaluation