**Preface to "Physical Activity, Nutritional Status, Physical Fitness"**

The Special Issue "Physical fitness, nutritional status, physical activity" is mainly devoted to the environment of uniformed services. This is justified by the strong correlation between national security and the fitness of soldiers and tactical athletes. It is a fact that the ability to make physical effort is an important factor enabling the performance of official tasks by soldiers and officers of uniformed services. The level of physical fitness depends on the level of physical activity and proper nutritional status. Knowledge of the relationship between physical fitness and physical activity and nutritional status is essential for physical education specialists, military doctors, as well as soldiers, policemen, and border guards. This Special Issue is especially targeted at these people.

The first five articles mainly refer to the physical activity and nutritional status of Polish soldiers, policemen, and border guards. These works were carried out as part of a research project of the National Health Program. The Special Issue also includes articles on overweight and obesity in the civilian environment. There are also two articles on the physical fitness of athletes (kickboxers) and American soldiers.

This Special Issue, titled "Physical fitness, nutritional status, physical activity", is the result of the work of scientists from Poland, the USA, Ireland, Germany, and the Netherlands. They are recognized specialists in their scientific disciplines. At this point, I would like to thank the authors of the articles and reviewers whose valuable comments contributed to the high substantive level of the published articles.

> **Andrzej Tomczak** *Editor*

#### *Article* **Assessment of the Level of Physical Activity and Body Mass Index of Soldiers of the Polish Air Force**

**Andrzej Tomczak 1,\*, Anna Anyzewska ˙ 2, Jerzy Bertrandt 3, Tomasz Lepionka 4, Artur Kruszewski 5 and Agata Ga ´zdzi ´nska 6**


**Abstract:** Level of physical activity positively affects health condition, correlates highly with level of physical fitness and contributes to the efficient performance of military tasks. The aim of the study was to assess the level of physical activity and body mass index of the Polish Air Force soldiers. A total of 543 professional soldiers (men) doing military service in military units of the Polish Air Force underwent the examination. The average age of examined soldiers amounted to 34.8 ± 9.0 years. In order to carry out the research, the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used. Out of the total of 477 questionnaires that qualified for the analysis, a high level of physical activity was found among 81.1% of subjects, moderate 10.5% and low 8.4%. Average MET values were obtained in the following: job-related, relocation (transportation), housekeeping, recreation (leisure activities and sport). The average MET values were 4173 ± 5306 MET; 2371 ± 2725 MET; 2455 ± 4843 MET; 2421 ± 2802 MET, respectively. The average level of body mass index amounted to 25.98 ± 3.38 kg/m2. The tested Air Force soldiers were generally characterized by a high and moderate level of physical activity. Generally, there was no difference in the level of physical activity between the flight crew and the ground staff.

**Keywords:** IPAQ; soldiers; military pilots; physical activity; BMI
