Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2010

Keywords

BMI;% body fat, Obesity, Physical fitness, Students, Vo2max levels

Abstract

There have been many publications in recent years reporting on the quantity of physical activity among college students using indirect indicators such as steps walked per day or time spent on physical activities. The purpose of this study was to describe the trends of physical fitness related to BMI and body fat among university students between 1996 and 2008. The results showed a significant decline in the average fitness levels measured as an estimation of VO2max for male and female students (p < 0.001 for both sexes). The linear trend for BMI by years was not significant for both sexes (p for males = 0.772, p for females = 0.253). On average, in the last 13 years, % body fat was increasing 0.513%/year for males and 0.654%/year for females. There is a significant indirect correlation between the student's VO2max levels and % body fat, r = -0.489; p < 0.001 for males; and r = -0.416, p < 0.001 for females. Approximately 23.9% of the variance in the VO2max levels in males and 17.3% in females can be explained by the variance in % body fat. The results support recent findings that physical fitness among college students is declining and body fatness is increasing. © 2010 by the authors.

Journal Title

Nutrients

Volume

2

Issue

10

First Page

1075

Last Page

1085

DOI

10.3390/nu2101075

First Department

Population Health, Nutrition & Wellness

Second Department

Graduate Psychology and Counseling

Acknowledgements

Retrieved March 3, 2021 from https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/2/10/1075

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