Declared and actual students’ physical activity

Abstract

Background and Study Aim. Regular and reasonable physical activity seems to be one of the most recommended health-promoting human behaviours. The aim of the work was to determine the relationship between the declared and actual level of students' physical activity. Material and Methods. 118 students from the faculty of physical education aged 22.62±1.93 years participated in the study (61 men aged 23.12±1.78 years and 57 women aged 22.08±1.39 years). To determine the level of physical activity, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the three-axis ActiGraph GT3X accelerometer were used in order to record physical activity parameters and the amount of energy expenditure. Results. The largest absolute difference without gender division was found in the average duration of physical activity in the medium intensity zone (16.83%). Differences in the level of weekly level of physical activity were noted in the whole group (13.79%; p<0.01) as well as in the group of women (relative difference 18.07%, p<0.01) and in the group of men (9.74%, p<0.01). A high correlation was observed between weekly energy expenditure calculated on the basis of declared values and the actual energy expenditure (r=0.94; p<0.05). Conclusions. Research carried out as part of the study showed that students declare a higher level of physical activity compared to the actual performed activity. On this basis, it can be concluded that there is a risk of error in assessing the volume of physical activity in a survey. The study showed significant gender diversity in the frequency and duration of physical activity undertaken by the respondents.