Physical activities among other types of health-related behaviour in people losing weight.

BACKGROUND

The role of physical activity in a health-seeking life style is increasingly and frequently about the improvement of one's silhouette. This constitutes the problem that we are trying to resolve in this article--are physical activities a part of actions aimed at the reduction of weight in people trying to lose it?

MATERIAL/

METHODS

We studied a group of adults trying to lose weight (N=398) aged 24-35. The Inventory of Healthy Behaviour (IHB) by Juczyński was applied, together with a questionnaire on physical activity and slimming. The IHB test results are analysed in four aspects: proper nutritional habits, prophylactic behaviour, positive mental attitude, and health-related practice.

RESULTS

The more the studied people weigh, the more they would like to lose; this correlation is significantly stronger in women. Women desire a lower weight and height norm; men--a higher. Men are more realistic in their expectations. Both women and men spent 5 hours a week exercising, participating in four different forms of activity. Only a relatively small percentage do not exercise.

CONCLUSIONS

Women exercise not for health, but in order to have a better silhouette. A slim beautiful body and, in effect, sexual attractiveness are the most emphasised element in their promotion of health, for which physical activity is paramount.