696 Trakia Journal of Sciences, Vol. 17, Suppl. 1, 2019 Trakia Journal of Sciences, Vol. 17, Suppl. 1, pp 696-702, 2019 Copyright © 2019 Trakia University Available online at: http://www.uni-sz.bg ISSN 1313-7069 (print) ISSN 1313-3551 (online) doi:10.15547/tjs.2019.s.01.114 PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OF STAFF AND LECTURERS OF SOFIA UNIVERSITY "ST. KLIMENT OHRIDKSI“ P. Hristova* Sport Department, University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Sofia, Bulgaria ABSTRACT Bulgaria continues to be with one of the highest mortality indicators in EU and with the lowest natural nation growth. The range of risk factors to human health are determined by the economic development of the country and by the life conditions which form risk behavioral habits such as smoking, inappropriate nutrition, alcoholism and most of all low physical activity. The low level of the physical activity has a significant contribution for the deterioration of our nation’s health status. A number of studies show that the immobilized lifestyle is widespread among all age groups in Bulgaria. This report presents data from a study on the lifestyle and the level of the physical activity of staff and lecturers of So fia University “St. Kliment Ohridksi”. The results show that the majority of them lead a sedentary lifestyle. The author recommends measures, which the Authorities of the University can take to improve the health status of the employees. Key words: health status, risk factors, physical activity, lifestyle, lecturers, staff, university INTRODUCTION Physical activity, health and quality of life are closely related. Human body is designed to move and therefore needs regular physical activity in order to function optimally and to prevent diseases. In addition, the active life leads to many well known social and psychological benefits. The development of our civilization alter the people’s way of life. The immobilization due to the massive influx of modern technologies in everyday life, led to the alarming findings in a number of studies on the poor state of people’s health. It has been long proven that sedentary lifestyle is a risk factor for the development of many chronic diseases and is one of the main causes of early death in the modern world. World Health Organization (WHO) defines physical activity as any bodily movement __________________________ *Correspondence to: Chief ass. Petya Stoyanova Hristova, PhD, Sport Department, University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Sofia, Bulgaria, 3-5 Aleko Konstantinov str., Sofia 1505, Bulgaria, E-mail: petya1973@yahoo.com, Mobile: +359878429842 produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure – including activities undertaken while working, playing, carrying out household chores, travelling, and engaging in recreational pursuits (1). The term "physical activity" should not be confused with "exercise", which is a subcategory of physical activity that is planned, structured, repetitive, and aims to improve or maintain one or more components of physical fitness. Beyond exercise, any other physical activity that is done during leisure time, for transport to get to and from places, or as part of a person’s work, has a health benefit. Further, both moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity improve health. For adults aged 18–64 years, WHO recommends that they should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity throughout the week, or do at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity throughout the week, or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous- intensity activity. For additional health benefits, adults should increase their moderate- intensity physical activity to 300 minutes per week, or equivalent. Muscle-strengthening activities should be done involving major