Activities

Science popularization in the Center for Physical Activity in 2021

Doc. MUDr. Barbara Ukropcova, PhD. and Mgr. Jozef Ukropec, DrSc. participated and presented an interesting topic “Health interview – How does physical activity contribute to our health?” in the online studio during Researchers’ Night 2021. Record in Slovak language

Science popularization in the Center for Physical Activity in 2019

The Integrated Physiology Section of the Department of Metabolic Diseases IEE BMC SAS co-organized the 4th Slovak Day of Obesity (interconnected with the European Day of Obesity) in 5 cities across Slovakia in collaboration with the Slovak Obesity Association and the Obesitology Section of the Slovak Diabetes Association. The goal of the event was to point out health issues linked to obesity, making people acknowledge obesity as a key health issue in modern society and emphasize the necessity to invest into nation-wide prevention programs. The motto is “obesity is a disease”.

In 2019, the partnership with Generali Corporate was further developed within the Generali Balans program. The aim of this program is to inform the public and highlight the necessity of a wide-spread support of programs promoting physical activity as a means of chronic disease prevention (Generali goes by example: raising awareness of prevention through the project GENERALI BALANS).

In 2019, Dr. Ukropcová had an array of science popularization activities within numerous events. These activities were linked to the promotion of physical activity as an effective physiological tool for the prevention and treatment of comorbidities associated with obesity. Activities included:

  • Muscles work for the brain. Mensa Bratislava, 10-1-2019 (link)
  • How to provoke doctors’ interest in scientific discovery. Institute of Pathological Physiology (Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University), Association of Slovak Physicians in Bratislava, 13-5-2019
  • Center for Obesity Management COM-EASO. Obesitology section SDS & the Slovak Obesity Association (SOA), press conference on the International Day of Obesity, Bratislava 14-5-2019
  • Management of obese patients in outpatient care, Congress SVLS 2019 Šamorín-Čilistov, 18-5-2019
  • The effects of regular exercise: health, independence, quality of life. Age Management SALON, 7-6-2019 (link)
  • Ukropcová B. Muscles work for the brain – brain plasticity and cognitive functions can improve through cognitive and physical training. IXPO technology innovation playground, SAS stage Tyršovonábrežie, Bratislava, 26 – 28. 4. 2019
  • Physical activity – elixir of health for the body and brain: benefits of regular physical activity. Generali Balans Talks. 7-10-2019 (event information)
  • League against cancer week (12. 10. – 18. 10. 2019). B. Ukropcová, 15. 10. 2019: Reasons to exercise in health and in sickness – even oncological patients can benefit from movement, both during and after chemotherapy treatment. What mechanisms physical activity triggers, what is the recommended dose of physical activity and how it can be implemented in practice. These are the questions we are looking to answer. (league against cancer week)
  • Barbara Ukropcová and Matej Tóth discuss science and sport in Science SK, a Slovak radio program, 28-12-2019, from 10:20pm, Radio Slovakia (program recording)
  • Clinical intervention study participants meeting, including members of the civic association Strieborné Líšky who actively promote physical activity as an integral component of healthy ageing. Center for Physical Activity, BMC SAS, 18-12-2019

Science popularization in the Center for Physical Activity in 2018

The Integrated Physiology Section of the Department of Metabolic Diseases IEE BMC SAS co-organized the 3rd Slovak Day of Obesity (interconnected with the European Day of Obesity) in 5 cities across Slovakia in collaboration with the Slovak Obesity Association and the Obesitology Section of the Slovak Diabetes Association. The goal of the event was to point out comorbidities / complications related to obesity, making people acknowledge obesity as one of the key health issues in modern society and emphasize the necessity to invest into nation-wide prevention programs. The motto is “obesity is a disease”.

The Integrated Physiology Section of the Department of Metabolic Diseases Institute of Experimental Endocrinology BMC SAS participated in the annual Researchers’ Night event in collaboration with the Faculty of Physical Education, Comenius University. The goal was to present the methodological and ideological background of our research and the application of our findings in everyday life. A public lecture on beneficial effects of physical activity and the mechanisms underlying these effects was given (Dr. Ukropcová).

  1. Dr. Ukropcová initiated cooperation with Generali insurance a. s. within the program Generali Balans. The objective of the program is to inform the public about the importance of exercise in the prevention of chronic diseases.
    (https://www.generali.sk/sk/o-nas/press-centrum/tlacove-spravy/spravy/poistovna-generali-ide-prikladom-spusta-osvetu-prevencii-projektom-generali-balans.html)

Dr. Ukropcová and Dr. Ukropec, together with members of their team and collaborators published a series of articles on the function of brown adipose tissue and the effects of physical activity on health. Articles were written for health professionals and the lay public.

  1. SCHÖN M, UKROPCOVÁ B. The reason why central obesity is so important. Bedeker zdravia 2018 30-32.
  2. UKROPCOVÁ B. Sitting is the modern-day smoking: An excess makes one’s life shorter. Bedeker zdravia 2018 36-38.
  3. UKROPEC J., SLOBODOVÁ L., UKROPCOVÁ B.  Physical activity, cold, and brown adipose tissue: Does physical activity activate brown adipose tissue? Bedeker zdravia. 2018
  4. SEDLIAK M., UKROPCOVÁ B., PAYER J. Endocrine and metabolic effects of physical activity in patients with hypogonadism. Via pract., 2018;15(4):175-178
  5. SCHÖN M., STRAKA I, SEDLIAK M, UKROPEC J, VALKOVIČ P., UKROPCOVÁ B. The role of physical activity in the management of patients with Parkinson‘s disease. Čes Slov Neurol N 2019 82/155(5): 496-504

In 2018, A/prof. Ukropcová had a variety of science popularization activities, presenting physical activity as an effective physiological means of prevention and treatment of comorbidities associated with obesity. These activities include:

  • UKROPCOVÁ B. Physical activity as an aspect of a complex lifestyle modification in prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. Generali &Partners Group: The client is the centre of attention. Žilina 27-3-2018.
  • UKROPCOVÁ B. Will Slovaks survive without exercise? Physical activity in prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. Slovak National Council, Bratislava, 8. 2. 2018.
  • UKROPCOVÁ B. Physical activity in the management of type 2 diabetics. Dôvera: workshop for educators within the program Dôvera helps diabetics, 15. 6. 2018, in Bratislava.
  • UKROPCOVÁ B. Will we survive without physical activity? A popular lecture for employees of Generali, Generali Bratislava, 11-2018.
  • UKROPCOVÁ B. Can lifestyle be cured? How to incorporate regular physical activity into the healthcare system. Bratislava, during a press conference dedicated to the International day of hypertension, 17-5-2018.
  • UKROPCOVÁ B. Physical activity – a health elixir. A popular public lecture. Researchers’ Night, Old Market (Stará tržnica), 9/2018.
  • UKROPCOVÁ B. Exercise as medicine: Regular physical activity in the prevention and treatment of oncological diseases. OnkoOlympiad – League Against Cancer (Liga Proti Rakovine, LPR), Bratislava 10/2018
  • UKROPCOVÁ B. Physical activity as an aspect of a complex lifestyle modification in prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. A lecture for students of STU (Slovak University of Technology), on the request of Ing. Igor Lehocký, Bratislava, 10/2018.
  • UKROPCOVÁ B. Physical activity as a health elixir & exercise as medicine. The effect of exercise on molecules, people, and society. Popularisation lecture given within the cycle of lectures Visionaries. Trnava 4/2018.
  • UKROPCOVÁ B. Children’s need for physical activity. 7th annual international conference for pedagogues. Teachers are not GOOGLE.  https://www.raabe.sk/ucitel-nie-je-google-5/program
  • UKROPCOVÁ B. Active participation in the educational program Generali-Balans: https://www.generali.sk/sk/o-nas/press-centrum/tlacove-spravy/spravy/poistovna-generali-ide-prikladom-spusta-osvetu-prevencii-projektom-generali-balans.html
  • UKROPCOVÁ B. – interview: A top-level medical doctor: For the body, acute exercise is like a small explosion. http://www.preventivne.sk/pohyb/spickova-lekarka-narazove-cvicenie-je-telo-ako-mensia-explozia-pravidelny-pohyb-zlepsuje-aj-mozog.html
  • UKROPCOVÁ B. – interview: Seniors in the gym: It changed our lives.  http://www.preventivne.sk/pohyb/dochodcovia-telocvicni-zmenil-nam-zivot.html
  • UKROPCOVÁ B. – interview: The number of people with diabetes grew exponentially since the 1980s. Denník N – streda 21. marca 2018 – https://dennikn.sk/1025201/od-roku-1980-sa-pocet-diabetikov-skoro-strojnasobil-cukrovka-2-typu-je-ochorenim-zivotneho-stylu/
  • UKROPEC J. Night pyramid – guest. Slovak Radio, Wednesday 12. 09. 2018 http://www.rtvs.sk/radio/program/11436/99092 / https://www.rtvs.sk/radio/archiv/11436/990922