Zeni?, Nata?a; Rausavljevi?, Nikola; Ber?i?, Herman - Leisure-time physical activities: the anthropological benifits and health risks

摘要

There is an evident lack of data concerning the influence of different leisure-time physical activities (LTPAs) on certain dimensions of anthropological status. In this paper we try to: (1) group and identify the LTPAs taking into consideration the problems of potential anthropological benefits and health risks (benefit-risk); and (2) define the benefit-risk factors discriminating between the observed groups of LTPA. In total, twenty LTPAs were measured on a set of nine variables (seven anthropological benefits and two health risk variables). Using cluster analysis, three homogenous groups of LTPAs are identified. Discriminant canonical analysis shows that the first group (monostructural – cyclic LTPAs) is characterised by low cardio-risk and a low risk of injury, but also high cardio-transformational possibilities. The second group (low energy demanding activities) is identified as low-risk LTPA, while the third group (polystructural activities) is identified as high risk – the high anthropological benefit group. Possible explanations are discussed. The results of the present study should be used in future efficient and precise analyses of the transformational effects and in the health-risk screening of different LTPAs.