The role of physical activity in preventing obesity in midlife women.
BACKGROUND
Obesity is one of the most common nutrition-related disorders worldwide and one of the major health problems in menopausal women, which significantly worsens the quality of life and can lead to severe diseases or even premature death. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relation between physical activity in different domains undertaken by menopausal women while performing daily activities and their body mass index (BMI).


METHODS
The study was conducted on a random sample of 400 healthy Polish women aged 45-55. The questionnaire contained questions concerning the respondents' socio-economic status, medical history and the long format of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used.


RESULTS
Fifty-one percent (50.6%) of women had normal body mass, 43.75% of respondents were overweighed and 5.65% of women were obese. A moderate physical activity level was presented by most midlife women in domestic and garden domain, active transportation and leisure time. Pearson's correlation showed that such factors as age, education and physical activity level in different domains have a significant correlation with BMI.


CONCLUSIONS
Most respondents presented a moderate physical activity level in all domains except work, where the respondents had a high physical activity (PA) level. A high PA level especially at work (r = -0.5788) and during leisure time (r = -0.5175) strongly correlate with lower BMI.
Department of Kinesitherapy and Special Methods, School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
Jolanta
J
Dąbrowska
Department of Sports Medicine and Physiology of Physical Effort, School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
Magdalena
M
Dąbrowska-Galas
Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
Beata
B
Naworska
Department of Kinesitherapy and Special Methods, School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
Magdalena
M
Wodarska
Department of Adapted Physical Activity and Sport, School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
Ryszard
R
Plinta
IPAQ; menopause; motor activity; obesity; women