Results of CINDI Health Monitor surveys in Slovenia as a tool for development of effective healthy nutrition and physical activity intervention programmes

Aim: The study was conducted aiming at assessing the prevalence of several selected health behaviours and on identifying population groups at very high risk for them in the adult population. The present study focused on unhealthy nutrition related to obesity and diabetes (UNROD) and insufficient physical activity (IPA). High-quality basis for working out strategies, guidelines and plans for public health action in Slovenia was planned to be prepared. Subjects and methods: The data originate from the national survey carried out in 2001 on health behaviour of 15,379 adults aged 25–64 based on Countrywide Integrated Non-communicable Diseases Intervention (CINDI) Health Monitor (CHM) methodology. The overall response rate of the mailed questionnaire was 64%, with 9,043 questionnaires being eligible for analysis. Binary multiple logistic regression was used to determine the impact of gender, age, education, employment, self-assessed social class, type of residence community and geographical region on the occurrence of UNROD and IPA. Results: The highest odds for UNROD were registered in men [odds ratio (OR)_{men vs. women}=1.35, p<0.001], aged 25–29 (OR_{25–29 vs. 60–64}=2.72, p<0.001), participants with primary education level (OR_{primary vs. university education}=2.20, p<0.001), heavy workers in rural economy (OR_{heavy work in rural economy vs. pensioner}=1.85, p<0.001), participants self-classified in labour social class (OR_{labour vs. upper}=1.89, p=0.026); residents of rural communities (OR_{rural vs. urban residence community}=1.26, p<0.001), and participants from the eastern region of Slovenia (OR_{eastern vs. central}=1.43, p<0.001). The highest odds for IPA were registered in women (OR_{women vs. men}=1.57, p<0.001), aged 25–29 (OR_{25–29 vs. 50–59}=1.65, p<0.001), participants with the lowest education level (OR _{uncompleted primary education vs. secondary}=1.47, p<0.001), participants self-classified in the lowest social class (OR _{lower vs. upper}=2.18, p=0.040); residents of urban communities (OR_{urban vs. rural residence community}=1.70, p<0.001), and participants from the central region of Slovenia (OR_{central vs. eastern}=1.32, p<0.001). Conclusions: Groups at highest risk for UNROD and IPA were successfully identified with the above-described methodology and presented to decision makers as evidence for public health policy. CHM surveys proved to be a good tool in developing effective healthy nutrition and physical activity intervention programmes.