In the opinion of Poles, the behaviour that contributes the most to improving health is proper nutrition. This answer was given by most respondents (50%), and other pro-health behaviours were indicated much less frequently. More than a quarter count non-smoking (27%), regular exercise (26%) and regular visits to the doctor (26%) as behaviours that are conducive to health. Slightly fewer people are convinced that health can be improved by avoiding stressful and nervous situations (23%) and spending free time actively (walks, cycling trips, etc., 20%). On the other hand, one-sixth believe that health improvement can be largely influenced by abstinence from alcohol (17%), and very few in this context indicate regular use of vitamin supplements (4%).

From the list below, please choose two types of activities that, in your opinion, contribute the most to improving human health

Over the last eight years, the opinion that protecting our health is primarily the state's responsibility has grown significantly. Currently, this view is shared by more than half of adult Poles (56%, an increase of 15 percentage points), and those who believe that protecting health is primarily our own responsibility are in the minority (38%, a decrease of 17 points). Past measurements show that opinions on the responsibility for health care were fairly stable until 2012, and the prevailing belief was that it is primarily our own responsibility. In 2016, however, we noted an increase in the conviction that it is primarily the state's responsibility, although those surveyed who believed this were still in the minority. Currently, for the first time, the conviction that protecting health is primarily the state's responsibility has begun to prevail.

Who do you think is primarily responsible for protecting our health?

The vast majority, i.e. nine out of ten respondents (90%), consider themselves to be people who care about their health, of which one-third (34%) make this declaration with strong, and over half (56%) with moderate conviction. Less than one-tenth (9%) express lack of concern for their health. Since the previous measurement, the number of the former has increased slightly (a rise by 5 percentage points) and the number of the latter has decreased to the same extent (a drop by 5 points). The greatest change in the attitude of Poles to their health was recorded in 2007, compared to the first half of the 1990s. The percentage of people saying that they care about their health increased by 22 points, from 58% to 80%, and the proportion of people admitting that they do not decreased by half, from 38% to 19%.

Do you consider yourself as a person who cares about his or her health?

As part of the study, we asked the respondents about their height and weight, which allowed us to calculate the body mass index (BMI). It is calculated as the ratio of body weight in kilograms to the square of height in meters. It should be emphasized that we are basing our study on the respondents' declarations, not objectively measured parameters, so they may – especially in the matter of weight, which is a sensitive issue for some – sometimes differ from reality. With this caveat in mind, we can say that six out of ten adults (59%) have excessive weight, including two-fifths (40%) who are overweight, and one-fifth (19%) who are obese. The body mass index for two-fifths of respondents (40%) indicates a healthy weight. A small number of 2% are underweight. Little has changed in this regard since the last measurement five years ago, apart from a minimal decrease of the number of obese people and an increase in the number of the overweight. However, both this and the previous measurement clearly differ from the previous studies from 2010 and 2014, when Poles were, in general, lighter (they were more likely to have a normal body weight and less likely to be overweight or obese).

Classification of respondents according to the body mass index (BMI)*