Fitness Counseling for the College Woman: These Are Not Her Mother's Norms!

Abstract

Most university recreation centers offer some form of fitness assessment service to both their undergraduate and graduate student populations. These assessments typically include evaluation of each of the major fitness components — cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition. Following assessment of these components, the student is informed of his/her fitness classification and receives a recommended exercise program based on the results. In many instances, the norms used for the fitness classification of these students are those provided by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), which are based on two separate age-related categories, the under 20 and 20–29 year divisions. Since the average undergraduate and graduate student is between 17–25 years of age, the ACSM norms do not provide a single normative distribution. In addition, currently used fitness classifications utilize category headings such as poor and fair which may be disheartening, especially for de-conditioned female students who are already leery about beginning an exercise program. Therefore, the purpose of this research was two-fold: 1) to determine a single normative distribution for 17–25 year-old college female on a variety of commonly used fitness tests; and 2) to develop more user-friendly categories for reporting fitness performance. The intent was to establish more accurate normative data and create a more positive climate during the post-test consultation in a college or university fitness setting. The test battery used combined protocols for each of the major components of fitness including the YMCA sub-maximal ergometer test, 1-RM bench and leg press, curl ups, push ups, trunk flexion, shoulder elevation, and a 3-site body composition test. Testing was performed on 377 female undergraduate and graduate students between the ages of 17 and 25. Normative data including means and standard deviations were determined. In addition, five fitness categories (performance, fitness, healthy, potential risk, and at risk) were established for each of the tests administered. Category descriptors were designed to help foster a supportive atmosphere during the post-test consultation. The integration of these findings into a college-based fitness assessment program may help to create a more reassuring climate and thus positively impact exercise program adherence rates of female college students.