Change in Cardiovascular Risk Profiles of Collegiate Undergraduate Students Following Participation in a Physical Activity Course

Abstract

A recent meta-analysis indicates that the most common underlying causes of death in the US are modifiable risk factors including tobacco use, poor diet and physical inactivity. 1 Smoking was found to be the leading underlying cause; however poor diet and physical inactivity will likely soon overtake tobacco as the leading cause of death. PURPOSE: To determine if participation in a 15-week elective physical activities course would result in modification of the risk factor profiles of an ethnically diverse cohort of collegiate undergraduate students. METHODS: Students enrolled in an elective physical education course were interviewed and assessed individually at the beginning of the class to determine the presence of the following seven risk factors: cigarette smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, obesity, family history of heart disease, and a sedentary lifestyle. Definition of the thresholds for these risk factors was based on the ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing & Prescription 6th Edition.2 Students participated in a supervised circuit training routine twice weekly, for 30–60 minutes. Additionally, students submitted quizzes based on assigned readings. Topics included: the importance of physical fitness & wellness, nutrition, weight management, stress management and a healthy lifestyle approach. Cardiovascular risk factors were reassessed at the end of the 15-week session. RESULTS: Ninety-four students participated in the initial interview, and 38 completed the final assessment. Their gender (22% male, 78% female), age (mean = 26.14, ± 8.75, range 17–56) and ethnicity (52% African American, 33% White, 10% Asian/Pacific Islander, 5% multiracial) mirrored that of the University. There were no significant differences between the group who completed the final interview and those who did not. The most prevalent risk factors initially and at the end of the study were sedentary lifestyle (61.7% vs. 61 % respectively) and obesity (29.8% vs. 24% respectively). In addition 33% were overweight (BMI 25–29.9 kg/m2) both at the beginning as well as at the end of the 15-week period. CONCLUSIONS: Among a cohort of college students, overweight/obesity and a sedentary lifestyle appear to be the leading cardiovascular risk factors. While these are inherently modifiable risk factors, they remained unchanged following a 15-week physical activities course. Encouraging participation in a physical activities course and providing instruction in the value of physical fitness in the modification of cardiovascular risk was ineffective in changing risk factor profiles of collegiate undergraduate students over the course of a 15-week semester.