Physical activity of working age Wroclaw residents with reference to their income

Background: ‪The aim of the paper was to assess the relationship between physical activity and the material status in working age residents of Wrocław, Poland. Material and methods: ‪The research covered 3,495 people aged 18–65 years. The research tool was the short version of the IPAQ survey questionnaire. The following information was obtained: age, sex, height, weight, and gross monthly income per capita in the household. Basic statistical characteristics were calculated, as well as the Mann-Whitney test for samples with n > 20 and the Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA test. Statistical significance was assumed for p < 0.05. Results: ‪In the weekly physical activity structure of the surveyed Wrocław residents, low-intensity activity was dominant. Usually, men were more engaged in physical activity of high intensity than women; women turned out more physically active than men within the range of low-intensity exercise. The gross monthly income per capita differentiated the categories of overall, moderate-intensity, and low-intensity physical activity in the surveyed women, and those of overall and low-intensity physical activity in the surveyed men. In both sexes, respondents with low income were characterised by the lowest physical activity. Women with medium income and men with high income were the most physically active. Conclusions: ‪It seems necessary to include the poorest working age people in public health programs aimed at increasing the level of physical activity.