Childhood Environment and Adult Height among Polish University Students

The objective of the study is to assess whether the choice of a childcare type (i.e. a mother giving up a professional career to take care of her child, employing a childminder, day care centre and kindergarten) depends on a child’s family socio-economic status and to investigate whether the childcare type affects an adult’s height. The material for the study was gathered in the cross-section research carried out among 783 female students and 535 male students of universities in Krakow and Opole (southern Poland). The height was measured with standard anthropometric instruments. To assess a socio-economic status (SES), the following factors were analysed: a place of living before entering the university, the educational background of parents and a self-assessment of their material situation. It was found that students from families with a high socio-economic status attended crčches and kindergartens much more frequently than others of the same age, while those who grew up at home under their mothers’ care, most frequently come from families with a lower socio-economic status. A socio-economic status does not significantly affect body heights of the researched sample group, however, students from high socio-economic status families are slightly taller than their peers. Females and males who spent their childhood under the care of their non-working mothers are the tallest, whereas those who attended crčche and kindergarten are the shortest. After the students to be examined were divided into three groups with low, average and high statuses respectively, it was observed that in every group the persons who spent their childhood under the care of their non-working mothers are taller than the ones who attended crčche and kindergarten

Childhood Environment and Adult Height among Polish University Students

The objective of the study is to assess whether the choice of a childcare type (i.e. a mother giving up a professional career to take care of her child, employing a childminder, day care centre and kindergarten) depends on a child’s family socio-economic status and to investigate whether the childcare type affects an adult’s height. The material for the study was gathered in the cross-section research carried out among 783 female students and 535 male students of universities in Krakow and Opole (southern Poland). The height was measured with standard anthropometric instruments. To assess a socio-economic status (SES), the following factors were analysed: a place of living before entering the university, the educational background of parents and a self-assessment of their material situation. It was found that students from families with a high socio-economic status attended crčches and kindergartens much more frequently than others of the same age, while those who grew up at home under their mothers’ care, most frequently come from families with a lower socio-economic status. A socio-economic status does not significantly affect body heights of the researched sample group, however, students from high socio-economic status families are slightly taller than their peers. Females and males who spent their childhood under the care of their non-working mothers are the tallest, whereas those who attended crčche and kindergarten are the shortest. After the students to be examined were divided into three groups with low, average and high statuses respectively, it was observed that in every group the persons who spent their childhood under the care of their non-working mothers are taller than the ones who attended crčche and kindergarten

Perceived and desired body weight among female university students in relation to BMI-based weight status and socio-economic factors

The aim of the study was to verify if the accuracy of weight perception among young women depends on their socioeconomic status and BMI–based weight status. In addition, the survey contained questions whether women were satisfied with their weight and tested if the desire to change weight is affected by real body weight and weight perception. The sample consisted of 1,129 female university students, aged 20–24. BMI was calculated from measured weight and height. The questionnaire contained questions about socio-economic status, weight perception and desired body weight. 71.9% of the surveyed students correctly estimated, 24.2% overestimated and 3.9% underestimated their body weight. Underweight women tended to incorrectly assess their body weight more often than normal weight women or overweight women (43.2% vs. 75.4% vs. 77.2%). Students from families of high socio-economic status slightly more often estimated their weight status correctly than students with average and low status, but the difference was statistically significant only in the case of the factor “mother’s education”. Most of surveyed women expressed the desire to weigh less or/and to have thinner waist, hips or thighs. The desire to be thinner was associated with body weight status and body weight perceptio

Procjena životnog stila mladih žena smanjene, normalne i prekomjerne tjelesne težine

The aim of this study was to compare eating and lifestyle habits between underweight, normal weight and overweight young women. Data obtained from a survey of 1129 students of the three higher education institutions in Kielce, Kraków and Opole (Southern Poland) were analysed. BMI was used to define underweight, overweight and obesity. Eating and lifestyle habits were assessed based on the information received from surveyed students. The study group consisted of women of childbearing-age and a special attention was paid to analyse habits correlated with the risk factor for pregnant women (low consumption of dairy products, meat, fish, fruits and vegetables, cigarette smoking, alcohol and caffeine intake). In the studied group, the prevalence of underweight was higher than the prevalence of overweight and obesity (11.1% vs. 7.0%). There were no significant differences in nutritional habits between the three weight groups. The responding students, regardless their weight status, presented numerous unhealthy eating habits. Underweight students more frequently took multivitamin supplements, less frequently followed an alternative diet, smoked cigarettes or drank larger amounts of coffee than normal weight and overweight women. Underweight and normal weight women more frequently participated in sports activities than overweight and obese women. However, 39.2 percent of the surveyed women declared that they seldom or never perform any sport activities. The results show that majority of young women present numerous unhealthy behaviours. Unhealthy habits occur with the same frequency among underweight students as among normal weight students or overweight ones.Cilj je ovog istraživanja usporediti navike u hranjenju i životnom stilu izmedu mladih žena smanjene, normalne i prekomjerne tjelesne težine. Analizirani su podaci prikupljeni istraživanjem 1129 studentica u tri ustanove visokog obrazovanja u Kielce, Kraków i Opole (južna Poljska). BMI se rabio za definiciju smanjene, normalne te prekomjerne tjelesne težine te pretilosti. Navike u hranjenju i životnom stilu procijenjene su na temelju podataka dobivenih od istraživanih studentica. Posebna pažnja posvečena je navikama koje su povezane s faktorima rizika za trudne žene (smanjena konzumacija mliječnih proizvoda, mesa, ribe, voča i povrča, pušenje, konzumacija alkohola i kofeina). U istraživanojskupini prevalencija smanjene težine bila je veča od povečane težine ili pretilosti (11.1% vs. 7.0%). Nije bilo značajnih razlika u navikama hranjenja izmedu tri kategorije težine. Studentice su bez obzira na svoju težinu pokazale brojne nezdrave navike u hranjenju. Studentice smanjene težine češče su uzimale multivitaminske preparate, rijede su slijedile alternativnu dijetu, pušile ili pile velike količine kave nego one normalne ili prekomjerne težine. Žene smanjene i normalne težine češče su se bavile sportskim aktivnostima od pretilih ili onih s prekomjernom težinom. 39.2 % ispitanih žena izjavilo je da se rijetko ili nikad ne bave nikakvim sportskim aktivnostima. Rezultati pokazuju da večina žena pokazuje nezdrava ponašanja. Nezdrave navike jednako su učestale medu studenticama sa smanjenom kao i u onih s normalnom i prekomjernom težinom

Associations between sleep duration and anthropometric indices of adiposity in female university students

Objectives: To examine associations between sleep duration as well as time of going to sleep and anthropometric indices related to the amount and distribution of adiposity. Material: A total of 969 female university students, aged 19–24 years. Methods: Participants self-reported their sleep duration. Body weight, height, and waist circumference were measured. BMI, WHR and WHtR were calculated. Statistical analyses of results involved logistic regression models. Socioeconomic status and level of stress were added as covariates. Results: In 15% of the sample, sleep was too short (8 h). Compared to women who followed the recommended sleep duration, among short sleepers, both underweight and overweight were more frequent, while long sleepers were more likely to be overweight. A higher prevalence of abdominal obesity and increased risk of metabolic syndrome were observed in both short and long sleepers than in recommended sleepers. Irregular sleep times were connected with higher OR, both for BMI 25, for WC > 80, and WHtR below 0.4 and above 0.5. Irregular sleep times also led to an increased risk of metabolic diseases prevalence. Conclusions: Both too long and too short sleep increases the risk of overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity and, as a consequence, the risk of metabolic syndrome in young women

Early age at menarche : relationship with socioeconomic status and selected factors connected with health status

Obecnie notuje się coraz wcześniejszy wiek wystąpienia pierwszej menstruacji, równocześnie coraz częściej zwraca się uwagę na negatywne skutki wczesnego dojrzewania. Wczesne dojrzewanie jest silnie związane z ryzykiem wystąpienia otyłości, zespołu metabolicznego, raka piersi i nowotworów układu rozrodczego, a także chorób, takich jak astma czy bulimia. Celem pracy było zbadanie zależności pomiędzy wiekiem menarche a statusem społeczno-ekonomicznym oraz wybranymi czynnikami związanymi z kondycja biologiczną. Dane zebrano od 671 studentek. U wszystkich badanych osób zmierzono masę i wysokość ciała, obwód pasa, obwód bioder oraz obliczono wskaźniki BMI, WHR i WHtR. W ankiecie studentki odpowiadały na pytania dotyczące wieku menarche, aktualnej kondycji zdrowotnej oraz statusu społeczno-ekonomicznego. Nie zaobserwowano istotnych statystycznie różnic pod względem liczby osób dojrzewających wcześnie, przeciętnie i późno w zależności od czynników społeczno-ekonomicznych. Dziewczęta wcześnie dojrzewające charakteryzują wyższe wartości obwodu pasa oraz BMI, WHR i WHtR niż dziewczęta dojrzewające przeciętnie i późno. Częstość występowania otyłości oraz otyłości brzusznej jest najwyższa w grupie dziewcząt wcześnie dojrzewających. Analizując związek tempa dojrzewania z wybranymi elementami związanymi z kondycją biologiczną, nie stwierdzono statystycznie istotnych zależności. Wczesne dojrzewanie zwiększa ryzyko otyłości i centralnego rozmieszczenia tkanki tłuszczowej.Current research from around the world indicates a trend toward younger ages at the first menstruation. At the same time more and more studies point out the negative consequences of early puberty. Early age at menarche is significantly correlated with the risk of metabolic syndrome, breast cancer and female reproductive system cancer, as well as illnesses such asthma and bulimia. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between age at menarche and socioeconomic status and selected factors connected with biological conditions. The data were obtained from 671 female university students. Height, weight, waist and hip circumference were measured, and BMI, WHR, WHtR were calculated. A questionnaire form was used to assess the age at menarche, biological conditions and socioeconomic status of the surveyed students. There were no significant diff erences in the number of the early, average and late maturing students between the socioeconomic groups. The early maturing girls were characterized by higher values of waist circumference, BMI, WHR and WHtR. The prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity was highest among the early maturing girls. The analysis did not show statistically significant relationships between age at menarche and selected factors connected with biological conditions.Early maturation increases the risk of obesity and central adiposity distribution

Does an early rural life influence selected health-related parameters of female university students?

Objective. The aim of the study was to define whether in a group of young women the place of residence in their childhood and adolescence, as well as moving from a rural to an urban area, have affected their biological condition. Materials and method. The data were obtained from 1,305 unmarried and childless women aged 18–25. The respondents were university students. Each person’s height, weight and waist circumference were measured, and the BMI, WHR, and WHtR indices were calculated. A survey was used to collect data on the females’ socio-economic status, their health condition and course of menstruation cycle. Results. In the whole sample, apart from WHR, there was no significant difference in anthropometric characteristics depending on the urbanization degree of the place of residence before commencing studies. In comparing the two groups of women, changing place of residence from a village to a city and from a city to another city, more differences were visible. Women of rural origin presented significantly higher values of BMI, waist circumference and WHtR than those from the city. They were also more frequently characterized by overweight and abdominal obesity. The women from other cities were characterized by underweight and too low amount of abdominal adipose tissue. Health problems were found in both groups. Students of rural origin more rarely declared changes in body weight and health condition after beginning studies. Students of urban origin were more often affected by sleeping problems and spine pains. Conclusions. The results of the study do not indicate that a change of place of residence has a stronger effect on the biological condition of rural women than their urban peers

Evaluation of Lifestyle of Underweight, Normal Weight and Overweight Young Women

The aim of this study was to compare eating and lifestyle habits between underweight, normal weight and overweight young women. Data obtained from a survey of 1129 students of the three higher education institutions in Kielce, Kraków and Opole (Southern Poland) were analysed. BMI was used to define underweight, overweight and obesity. Eating and lifestyle habits were assessed based on the information received from surveyed students. The study group consisted of women of childbearing-age and a special attention was paid to analyse habits correlated with the risk factor for pregnant women (low consumption of dairy products, meat, fish, fruits and vegetables, cigarette smoking, alcohol and caffeine intake). In the studied group, the prevalence of underweight was higher than the prevalence of overweight and obesity (11.1% vs. 7.0%). There were no significant differences in nutritional habits between the three weight groups. The responding students, regardless their weight status, presented numerous unhealthy eating habits. Underweight students more frequently took multivitamin supplements, less frequently followed an alternative diet, smoked cigarettes or drank larger amounts of coffee than normal weight and overweight women. Underweight and normal weight women more frequently participated in sports activities than overweight and obese women. However, 39.2 percent of the surveyed women declared that they seldom or never perform any sport activities. The results show that majority of young women present numerous unhealthy behaviours. Unhealthy habits occur with the same frequency among underweight students as among normal weight students or overweight ones