Health Behaviours of Seniors Depending on the BMI

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Ewa Mędrela-Kuder, Marta Bogacka

4 (53) 2017 s. 418–423
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Fraza do cytowania: Mędrela-Kuder E., Bogacka M. Health Behaviours of Seniors Depending on the BMI. Polski Przegląd Nauk o Zdrowiu. 2017;4(53):418–423.

Introduction. Health behaviours of seniors, including adequate levels of physical activity, a balanced diet, and abstinence from psychoactive substances, carry substantial importance in maintaining appropriate body mass and preventing non-infectious chronic diseases. Aim. The aim of the study was to determine health behaviours in relation to the body-mass index (BMI). Material. The study encompassed seventy-free respondents aged sixty to seventy-five, living independently at family homes. The population was divided into two age groups: A (60–65 years of age) and B (aged between 66 and 75). Methods. The research employed a dedicated questionnaire developed by the author as well as the International Physical Activity Questionnaires (IPAQ). Results. More than half of the surveyed were overweight (54.8%), 35.6% possessed a normal body mass, whereas 9.6% suffered from obesity. The healthy-weight participants selected brown bread more frequently (42.6%) compared to the overweight respondents, who favoured refined flour products (73.0%). A significant relationship between BMI and bread consumption was found (p = 0.0499). More men than women consumed alcohol, yielding a significant relationship between gender and alcohol intake (p = 0.0425). By contrast, no significant relationship applied to gender and smoking (p = 0.4947). A vast majority of men from the younger group (80%) and more than half of the older male respondents did not undertake physical activity. A greater part of the older female participants (group B, 63.6%) and more than half of those aged between 60 and 65 declared a lack of physical activity. Conclusions. Targeted health education should be introduced to increase seniors’ awareness of the importance of physical activity, appropriate nutrition and healthy body mass in preventing non-infectious chronic diseases.

Key words: BMI, physical activity, nutrition.



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