Results from Poland's 2022 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 19; no. 7; p. 4276
• Main Authors: Zembura, Paweł, Korcz, Agata, Nałęcz, Hanna, Cieśla, Elżbieta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 02.04.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Academic grading; Active transport; Adolescent; Adolescents; Child; Children; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Datasets; Exercise; Grey literature; Health care; Health Policy; Health Promotion; Humans; Indicators; Information sources; Initiatives; Medical research; Obesity; Pandemics; Physical activity; Physical fitness; Poland; Sedentary Behavior; Teams; Teenagers; Trends; Poland; active play; physical activity promotion; government; organized physical activity; school; physical fitness; Global Matrix; sport participation; sedentary behavior; Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19074276

This paper presents the methodology and results of Poland's 2022 Report Card on physical activity (PA) of children and adolescents, as part of the Global Matrix (GM) 4.0 project. The aim of this paper is to discuss the current state of PA of children and adolescents in Poland. Grades were assigned to ten indicators of behaviors, physical fitness and sources of influence or settings, based on a synthesis of the best available data. In Poland two indicators: Overall Physical Activity (OPA) and Active Play were not assessed. Out of the other indicators, School received the highest score B+, whereas the other indicators had generally moderate to weak scores (between C+ and D). Scores for Organized Sport and Physical Activity, School and Physical Fitness indicators were improved compared with the previous GM, whereas scores for Active Transport and Government were lower. No positive changes regarding OPA or Sedentary Behaviors were observed. One of the limitations of PA promotion in Poland is that government-level PA policies are overly focused on organized PA and sport. Recommendations for improving PA monitoring in Poland, influencing PA behaviors and strengthening PA settings and sources of influence are also discussed.