Detailed characteristics of the weight status of the population is necessary for the effective prevention of health disorders, e.g., through personalized nutrition education. This study aimed to characterize weight status and identify sociodemographic factors associated with overweight/obesity in a representative sample of adult inhabitants of Poland. This cross-sectional study was carried out from July 2019 to February 2020 on a representative nationwide sample of individuals aged 18+ in Poland. The study consisted of two parts: questionnaire survey and anthropometric measurements. The body mass index was calculated. Data on 1831 adults (50.3% females; mean age 51.7 ± 19.9 years) were included in this analysis. The prevalence of overweight was 42.2% (52.4% among males and 32.0% among females). Of the 1831 participants, 16.4% were obese (16.5% of males and 16.2% of females). Out of 11 factors analyzed in this study, only 5 were significantly associated with overweight/obesity. Males, older participants, occupationally active individuals, those living in rural areas and individuals with at least one chronic disease had greater odds of overweight/obesity. This study demonstrated a high prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults in Poland. This is the most up-to-date representative study on nutritional status carried out before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: In recent years, there has been a great interest in food supplements. However the use of food supplements can be associated with the risk of excessive intake of vitamins or minerals which may have adverse health effects.Objective: Assessment of food supplement consumption in the adult population in Poland.Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 1,831 adults (913 men, 918 women) from which 178 (59 men, 119 women) food supplement users were selected. The consumption of food supplements were assessed by the 24-h recall repeated two times and the food propensity questionnaire (FPQ).Results: 10% of the subjects consumed food supplements during the 12 months prior to the study (6% of men, 13% of women) and among users 68% (79% of men and 88% of women) in the day before the survey. Most respondents (44%) used vitamin supplements during the year. More men than women (27 vs. 11%, p = 0.0059) used mineral supplements while more women than men used vitamin and mineral supplements (31 vs. 8%, p = 0.0008). The most frequently supplemented vitamins were: B₆ (58%), C (53%), and D (47%) and minerals were: magnesium (43%), zinc (34%), and iron (29%). More women than men supplemented vitamin B6 (71 vs. 40%, p = 0.0012), vitamin D (54 vs. 36%, p = 0.0061) and magnesium (49 vs. 34%, p = 0.0075). Intake of riboflavin, pantothenic acid and manganese were higher in the group of men (respectively: 3.3 mg ± 6.0 vs. 1.4 mg ± 0.3, p = 0.0329; 9.4 mg ± 5.6 vs. 6.1 mg ± 2.0, p = 0.0357; 2.2 mg ± 0.9 vs. 1.3 mg ± 0.6, p = 0.0080) but intake of vitamin D was higher in the group of women (15.7 μg ± 20.4 vs. 33.1 μg ± 26.4, p = 0.0085). In many cases, the intake of vitamins and minerals from food supplements covered the Dietary Reference Values for these nutrients in 100%. In some persons the intake of biotin, vitamin B₁₂, C, B₆, riboflavin, niacin was higher than the reference values several dozen times. The intake of vitamins and minerals exceed UL in a few cases relating to vitamin B₆ and magnesium.Conclusions: A minority of adults in Poland used food supplements. However, those products were a significant source of vitamins and minerals. Intake of vitamins and minerals from food supplements should be monitored.

The aim of the study was to assess the quantity and frequency of meat consumption, especially of red and processed meat, in Poland. The amount of meat consumed was assessed using data from household budget surveys undertaken in 2000, 2010, and 2020. The frequency of consumption was assessed using Food Propensity Questionnaire data from 1831 adults in 2019–2020. Poles consumed 1.35 kg of unprocessed red meat and 1.96 kg of total processed meat per person per month in 2020. The consumption of red meat was lower than in the two previous decades; the consumption of processed meat fluctuated. Pork was the most commonly consumed red meat: 40% of adults consumed pork 2–3 times a week. Beef and other unprocessed red meat were most often consumed less than once a month (29.1%). Processed meat was often consumed: 37.8% of adults ate cold cuts, and 34.9% ate sausages and bacon 2–3 times a week. The consumption of red and processed meat in Poland was high and frequent. In particular, the consumption of processed meat exceeded the recommendations and might increase the risk of chronic diseases. It is necessary to implement activities aimed at reducing the consumption of red and processed meat in Poland.

Fish provide energy, protein, and other important nutrients, including n-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and iodine. However, some species of fish could contain contaminants such as mercury and dioxins. The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of fish consumption in Poland, including of sea and freshwater fish species, referring to some socio-economic determinants. The frequency of consumption was assessed using Food Propensity Questionnaire data from 1489 adults (722 males, 767 females) in 2019–2020. The fish consumption frequency in Polish adults was lower than the recommendation (at least twice a week). About 80% of respondents consumed fish less frequently than recommended. Sea fish were mostly consumed less than once a month (31.8%) or 1–3 times a month (30.9%). Most subjects (44.8%) consumed freshwater fish less than once a month. Consumption also depended educational level, economic status, place of residence, declared health status, and BMI value or BMI status. However, taking into account sex, the occurrence of these relationships was different between men and women. It seems that educational activities and dissemination of proper nutrition principles is necessary in order to increase the consumption of fish in Poland. It is important to emphasize the health benefits of fish consumption in relation to the possible adverse effects of their contamination.

The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of fish consumption in Poland including sea and freshwater fish species referring to some socio-economic determinants. The frequency of consumption was assessed using Food Propensity Questionnaire data from 1489 adults (722 males, 767 females) in 2019–2020. The fish consumption frequency in Polish adults was too rare compared to the recommendations (at least twice a week). About 80% of respondents consumed fish less frequently than recommended. Sea fish were mostly consumed less than once a month (31.8%) or 1-3 times a month (30.9%). The most of subjects (44.8%) consumed freshwater fish less than once a month. It was also depended on: educational level, economic status, place of residence, declared health status, and on BMI value or BMI status. However, taking into account sex, the occurrence of these relationships was different in men and women. It seems that educational activities and dissemination of proper nutrition principles is necessary in order to increase the consumption of fish in Poland. It should be important to emphasize health benefits of fish consumption in relation to possible adverse effects of their contamination.

Background: Nitrites should be limited in the diet because their potential carcinogenic effects. However, the addition of nitrites is essential to maintain the microbiological safety of meat products, mainly to protect them from bacteria Clostridium botulinum and to preserve the pink colour of meat products and to give them desirable organoleptic properties. Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for nitrite (expressed as nitrite ion) established by EFSA is 0.07 mg per kilogram of body weight per day (mg kg−1 day−1), equivalent to 0.1 mg kg−1 day−1 of sodium nitrite.Objective: The aim of this study was the assessment of sodium nitrite intake in meat products and exposure to this compound in Polish adolescents.Material and Methods: The analysis of sodium nitrite intake with selected meat products by young Poles was based on consumption data of these products by adolescents aged 11-17 in 2019-2020 and analytical data on the actual content of sodium nitrite in meat products provided by laboratories of sanitary and epidemiological stations in 2017 and 2018 (4 voivodships).Results: The intake of sodium nitrite by adolescents aged 11-17 years in total, both the mean (0.063 mg kg−1 day−1) and the median (0.050 mg kg−1 day−1) did not exceed ADI. On the other hand, the intake of sodium nitrite at the 95th percentile (P95) was 195% of the ADI, and the highest intake was found in young boys – 200% of the ADI.Conclusions: The average intake of sodium nitrite from meat products by Polish adolescents was generally lower than ADI. However, there was observed potential risk of excessive intake for some boys and girls who had a high consumption of meat products.