engleski

Health as a precondition or a goal? The situation in Croatia

The paper deals with the current situationin Even though the elite sport is very popular in Croatia and there is a large number of registered athletes, we have to point to the problem that after the young age the ex-athletes rarely continue their engagement in physical activity. After the years spent in training only few decide to prolong their physical activity through some sports-recreational programs. In comparison to some western and northern European Counties, Croatia is a “sports nation” which is being confirmed through the results in elite sports over and over, but Croatia is definitely not a “sports-recreation” country. Only 7% of adult population is engaged in any kind of sports-recreational activity. If we consider the high influence of elite sport and elite athletes on population through media, we must conclude that till now nobody of them was ever used in promotion of physical activity in adult age. The possibility of engagement of top athletes and their “karma” in promotion of sport-recreational activities should be discussed together with other promotional activities, which do not provide satisfactory results. According to the current knowledge in prevention of diseases by physical activity, the Croatian Organisation Sport for All is engaged in designing and conducting the programs of HEPA all over Croatia. The collaboration with Faculty of Kinesiology showed to be very useful in planning and programming as well as in providing the educated personnel. Despite financial problems, there is certain number of organised physical activity groups exercising every day in towns as well as in rural areas under the patronage of Croatian Organisation Sport for All. Also, occasional manifestations like the World Day of Sport or The World Walking Day gathered thousands of participants. Though the overall number of active population is still not satisfactory. The achieved level of health in population is influenced by inheritance and environment, as well as by lifestyle that is determined by tradition and socio-economic factors. Among many risk factors for development of cerebro- and cardiovascular diseases, the sedentary lifestyle plays an important role. In period 1953.-1991. the percentage of population over 65 years of age increased from 7% to 13% implicating the increase in diseases and complications caused by inactivity. According to the statistical data, the main cause of death in Croatian population is of cardiovascular origin, followed by neoplastics diseases. Almost 45% of all deaths are caused by cerebral of myocardial infarction, cardiac ischemia, cardiac decompensation, atherosclerosis and hypertension, all of them highly influenced by sedentary way of life. The overall Croatian morbidity data show the highest incidence of respiratory diseases (31%). The cardiovascular diseases are second with 10% of all reported diseases, followed by diseases of the musculoskeletal system (8%) both of which can be strongly influenced by physical activity, which is more important for Sport for All. Those data explain why the true insight in activity–health relation is needed.

elite sport; sports recreation; Croatia

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