eISSN: 2450-5722
ISSN: 2450-5927
Journal of Health Inequalities
Current issue Archive Online first About the journal Editorial board Abstracting and indexing Subscription Contact Instructions for authors Publication charge Ethical standards and procedures
Editorial System
Submit your Manuscript
Search
Editorial Policies
Sarajevo Declaration on Integrity and Visibility of Scholarly Publications

Open access

without publication fees
2/2016
vol. 2
 
Share:
Send email
Share:
abstract:
Original paper

The “Keep Fit!” programme for building health-competence in children and adolescents in Poland regarding their diet and physical activity – study design

Paulina Wojtyła-Buciora
1, 2
,
Tomasz Bołdowski
3
,
Cezary Wojtyła
4
,
Wiola Żukiewicz-Sobczak
5
,
Krzysztof Wojtyła
2
,
Zuzanna Chęcińska-Maciejewska
1
,
Andrzej Wojtyła
2
,
Hanna Krauss
1

  1. Department of Physiology, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
  2. Higher Vocational State School, Kalisz, Poland
  3. Department of Emergency Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
  4. Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, I Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Warsaw, Poland
  5. Pope John Paul II State School of Higher Education in Biala Podlaska, Poland
J Health Inequal 2016; 2 (2): 172–177
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/jhi.2016.65359
Online publish date: 2016/12/30
View full text Get citation
 
PlumX metrics:
Introduction: The “Keep Fit!” programme is an initiative for promoting healthy lifestyles in school­children, which uses a two-pronged approach of focusing on a balanced diet combined with regular physical activity. Hitherto, nine editions of the programme have taken place, involving more than seven million pupils attending over 8800 schools. Due to its scope and coverage being so wide, the “Keep Fit!” programme was recognised as being the largest educational programme in the European Union. The aim of the present study was to investigate the health behaviours of pupils and students in Poland, with focus on their eating habits, physical activity, self-assessed weight, psychoactive substance use, and the impact that taking part in the “Keep Fit!” programme had on changing their lifestyle.

Material and methods: The study involved cross-sectional surveys in Poland conducted in 2009 among randomly selected samples of junior high-school pupils (ages 13-16), and in 2011 of pupils attending junior high school, high school (ages 17-19), as well as university students aged 25 and younger. The questionnaire was devised by the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate (GIS). Data was analysed from correctly completed questionnaires among 9,360 and 11,863 eligible respondents in 2009 and 2011, respectively.

Results: Among eligible survey respondents, 53% (4970) in 2009 and 14% (1674) took part in the “Keep Fit!” programme. Both in 2009 and 2011 the “Keep Fit!” programme has made a significant and beneficial impact in terms of eating habits and physical activity among programme participants.

Conclusions: The “Keep Fit!” programme should be continued so as to prevent overweight, obesity, and other chronic non-communicable diseases from occurring in schoolchildren.
keywords:

diet, physical activity, health behaviour, children and adolescents, “Keep Fit!” programme, Poland
Journal published under the patronage of:

Termedia
About us Contact
Copyright notice Privacy policy Advertising policy Contact us
Quick links
Journals Books eBooks Events
© 2024 Termedia Sp. z o.o.
Developed by Bentus.