**3. Results**

The calculations using the G\*Power test were made a posteriori. The minimum sample size should be 220 subjects for the Chi-square test (effect size = 0.3; power = 0.95). The minimum sample size should be 252 subjects for the Kruskal–Wallis test (effect size = 0.25; power = 0.95). In our research we met these requirements with a significant surplus, as 477 questionnaires were qualified for the analysis.

Out of the total of 477 questionnaires which qualified for the analysis, a high level of physical activity was found among 81.8% (*n* = 390) of subjects, a moderate level in 10.2% (*n* = 50) and low in 8.0% (*n* = 40). Taking into account only the flight crew, it was found that a high level of physical activity characterized 80.9% of the soldiers, moderate 11.9%, and low 7.2%. In the ground staff, the following results were obtained: 82.4%, 9.0% and 8.6%, respectively (Table 1).


**Table 1.** Summary of the levels of physical activity of the Air Force soldiers according to the IPAQ classification.

The values in a given column not sharing a letter index between rows differ at the *p* < 0.05 (Bonferroni correction). Legend: V—effect size.

Table 1 presents the results of the Chi-square test for the levels of physical activity depending on the type of specialization and the age of the respondents. The analysis showed no association between specialization and the level of physical activity. The relationship between age and the level of physical activity among flight crew also turned out to be insignificant. A significant association of low strength was noted between the level of physical activity and the age of ground staff. In the age group under 30, the percentage of soldiers with a high level of physical activity was significantly higher than in the other two age groups (90.0% vs. 78.3% and 75.4%). The percentage of soldiers up to 30 years of age with a low level of physical activity was significantly lower than among soldiers aged 31–40 (2.7% vs. 14.1%).

BMI was calculated for professional role and in terms of age groups of the soldiers (Table 2). The average BMI for all Air Force soldiers was 25.98 kg/m2, for flight crew 26.65 kg/m2, and for ground staff 25.46 kg/m2. Normal body weight was revealed by 40.5% of all soldiers of the Air Force (flight crew 34.3%, ground staff 45.4%). Overweight was found in 46.5% of soldiers (flight crew 46.7%, ground staff 46.4%). On the other hand, obesity was revealed by 12.8% of all soldiers of the Air Force (flight crew19.0%, ground staff 7.9%), while underweight was diagnosed in one soldier (ground staff). Among the flight crew, the highest percentage of soldiers with normal body weight was found in soldiers under 30 (52.2%). The highest percentage of overweight soldiers was found among soldiers in the 31–40 age group (56.7%). On the other hand, soldiers in the age group over 40 showed the highest percentage of obesity (28.6%). The same tendency was found in the group of ground staff: normal body weight had the highest percentage among the younges<sup>t</sup> soldiers (68.2%), the highest percentage of overweight soldiers was in the 31–40 age group (58.7%), and obese soldiers were in the age group above 40 (16.9%).


**Table 2.** Summary of the BMI of the subjects [kg/m2].

The values in a given column not sharing a letter index between rows differ at the *p* < 0.05 (Bonferroni correction). Legend: IQR—interquartile range; Me—median; H—Kruskal-Wallis test statistic; η2—effect size.

In each age group of flight crew, a higher percentage of obese soldiers was found (statistically significant difference). Statistically significant differences in BMI values were found between the flight crew and ground staff. The following regularity was observed, BMI increases with the age of the subjects. The highest BMI was found in the group of flight crew who were over 40 (BMI = 27.67 kg/m2).

In the next stage of the analysis of the research results, the total MET value, and the MET value for individual types of physical activity, were calculated (in accordance with the parts listed in IPAQ). It was found that the overall MET level in the group of ground staff was higher than that of the flight crew (12,333 MET vs. 10,262 MET; *p* < 0.05). For the activity from Part 1: Job-related PA, a statistically significant difference in MET values between the flight crew and ground staff was found (respectively: 3367 MET vs. 4807 MET). In the remaining parts of the listed activities, i.e., transportation of PA, housework, leisure-time PA, no statistically significant differences were found (Table 3).

Table A1 presents the results of the studies on the total MET value for each age group. In the group of flight crew, the highest total MET value (10,625 MET) was disclosed by soldiers over 40. However, in the group of ground staff, the highest MET value was for soldiers aged 31–40 (13,045 MET). The MET values calculated for the physical activities

listed in the parts of the questionnaire (job-related PA, transportation PA, housework, leisure time) in individual age groups were also subjected to detailed analysis (Tables A2–A5). Taking into account the total number of Air Forces soldiers, the highest MET values related to professional work, transportation (relocation) and housework were revealed by soldiers of the age group up to 30 (respectively: 5059 MET; 2653 MET; 2959 MET) (Tables A3–A5). Flight crew over 40 received the highest MET value related to leisure time (2559 MET) (Table A5). A comparison was also made between the groups of flight crew and ground staff, MET values for intensive efforts, MET values for moderate efforts and MET values for walking. The flight crew obtained 3100 MET for intensive efforts, while the ground staff attained 3900 MET. For moderate efforts, 3214 MET was obtained by the flight crew and 3534 MET by the ground staff. For walking the results were, respectively: 4008 MET and 4871 MET (all statistically significant differences).

**Table 3.** Summary of MET values in flight crew and ground staff according to IPAQ criteria.

