Is it worth following the example of a scientist? - or a few words about nutritional status and physical activity of Polish professors.

Abstract

Growing problem of overweight and obesity in Polish society needs corrective measures to limit its negative consequences. The purpose of the study is to assess the levels of nutritional status and physical activity of people with university education, professors of Poznań universities. The study included 288 Polish university professors. Their socioeconomic status and lifestyle were determined. Based on the BMI and waist circumference people with normal body proportions and proportions above normal were identified. The effect of biological and environmental variables on normal body proportions was assessed with the regression equation. Results: 1) The group is at the top of the social stratification ladder. 2) A high physical activity level, determined by leisure activities in the past, age, sex, and smoking, characterises 13% of women and 24% of men. 3) Obesity and overweight are more frequent in men compared to women, and in people aged over 49 years. 4) In models of logistic regression, where age was a controlled variable, sex was the only variable significantly determining body proportions in the younger group. In the older group, self-assessment of income and savings, physical activity level, smoking and the number of meals per day significantly affected body proportions. The significance of environmental factors for maintaining normal body proportions becomes visible for the studied group at the end of adult life, without showing significant effect in earlier life. This indicates that actions promoting benefits of physical activity and healthy behaviour should be implemented also for people with university education.