**4. Discussion**

It was hypothesized that a higher level of physical activity would be revealed by soldiers belonging to the group of flight crew. The premise for such a hypothesis was the fact that more attention is paid to physical preparation in the flight crew. This was manifested in an increased number of physical education classes (flight crew at least 6 h per

week, ground staff at least 4 h per week), and the fact that the flight crew participated once a year in three-week training and fitness camps [25]. On working days during training and fitness camps, a minimum of 6 h of physical education, sports and recreation classes were carried out. Wider educational and promotional activities in the field of a healthy lifestyle were also undertaken in relation to the flight crew. The Military Institute of Aviation Medicine plays a leading role in this aspect. Based on the results of the studies, the hypothesis was rejected. It turned out that it was the ground staff who represented a higher level of physical activity (expressed as total MET). Another surprising result was the disclosure of the fact that 8% of the Air Force soldiers were classified in a group with a low level of physical activity. This is a worrying percentage as this occupational group is expected to have a high, or at least moderate, level of physical activity. It turned out that a similar percentage of soldiers with low levels of physical activity occurred in the group of flight crew and ground staff (7.2% and 8.6%, respectively). A similar result was obtained by Tomczak et al. (2011) in studies conducted among military police soldiers (7.7%) [15]. In turn, Mierzejewski, in the research carried out at the Land Forces Training Center, did not find any soldier with a low level of physical activity [14]. This may sugges<sup>t</sup> that as long as soldiers participate in military training in barracks, they are ensured an adequate level of physical activity by participation in varied military training. However, after returning to military units and everyday life, the issues of physical activity become less important.

Analyzing the levels of physical activity in individual age groups, a disturbing phenomenon was observed. In accordance with the general trend, it was assumed that younger soldiers and flight crew would be characterized by a higher level of physical activity. This assumption was also not confirmed. Among flight crew aged up to 30, a lower percentage of soldiers with a high level of physical activity was revealed than in the age group up to 30 of ground staff (81.8% and 90.0%, respectively). The highest percentage of soldiers with low levels of physical activity was also revealed among flight crew up to the age of 30 (9.1%) and ground staff (2.7%).

The level of physical activity is related to the value of BMI, greater physical activity is one of the factors influencing the reduction of body mass [26]. Assuming the BMI criteria, all the Air Force soldiers were revealed to be slightly overweight (25.98 kg/m2). BMI increased with the age of the respondents. Higher BMI was found in the flight crew (Table 2). However, BMI should be interpreted with grea<sup>t</sup> caution in relation to athletes (strength competitions), as well as physically active people who regularly practice strength exercises, because then we may have to deal with the so-called muscle overweight [27]. Interesting information is provided by a comparative analysis of the currently obtained BMI results of flight crew with the results of research conducted fifteen years ago by Henrykowska and Tomczak, also among the polish flight crew [28]. At that time, the level of BMI of flight crew was 25.43 kg/m2, which was 1.22 units lower than at present. For soldiers in the group up to 30 years old, the BMI level was 23.50 kg/m<sup>2</sup> (it was lower by 1.55 units), for soldiers in the group 31–40 years old, 24.41 kg/m<sup>2</sup> (it was lower by 1.65 units), and for the group of soldiers over 40, 27.99 kg/m<sup>2</sup> (it was lower by 0.32 units) [28]. Definitely higher values currently occur in the group of respondents up to the age of 30 and in the group aged 31–40. These research results show an unfavorable trend taking place, not only in the military environment [29].

Many researchers have studied the influence of BMI level on injuries suffered by soldiers [30]. There is insufficient scientific evidence for BMI in general as a modifiable risk factor. However, there is strong scientific evidence for obesity, for being overweight and underweight, as a modifiable risk factor for musculoskeletal injuries [31–33]. It was also found that soldiers who were older had higher BMIs, ran longer distances during unit physical training, and had lower cardiovascular endurance as measured by the two-mile run and were at a higher risk of a running-related injury [33].

A result worth analyzing is the MET value during professional work (IPAQ Part I). A significantly higher MET value was found for the ground staff compared to the flight crew (4807 MET and 3367 MET, respectively). The flight crew is generally believed to perform

heavier work when performing tasks in the air. However, this was not confirmed by the conducted surveys. Such a result was most likely influenced by an increase in the degree of technicality of military equipment and the associated change in the manner of performing work (loads, performance of activities). As noted in the modern world, coordination skills are more important than fitness skills [34,35]. In spite of these changes, the ground staff, which consisted of technicians operating aircraft, performs many activities requiring effort (moving equipment, lifting, moving as walking or cycling).

The present considerations lead to a reflection that educational errors, related to the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, may have occurred in military units. Kaiser and Sokołowski stated that the army as a total institution has a significant impact on the lifestyle (pro-health attitudes) of soldiers. Therefore, it would be advisable to modify the existing military school programs by taking into account the issues of health education, so that the superiors not only acquire command skills, but also become model health educators [12]. Mullie et al. (2013), on the other hand, indicated that the army, instead of relying on civilian actions in the field of public health, should develop its own specific methods of preventing weight gain, improving physical fitness and influencing attitude to smoking [36].
