Abstract
Abstract Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of various forms of physical activity (PA) among female students in physical education (PE) programs offered by universities in Poland, Hungary, and the United Kingdom. Methods: Two hundred full-time female university students (mean age: 19.93±0.82) enrolled in various PA programs. The participants’ anthropometric traits were measured, and their body composition parameters were determined with the InBody analyzer. Based on the students’ physiological parameters, the effectiveness of various types of PA was measured with Suunto Ambit3 peak heart rate monitors during 60 minutes of physical exertion. Results: The average values of body mass index (BMI), body fat mass (BFM), percent body fat (PBF), waist-hip ratio (WHR), visceral fat level (VFL), and obesity degree were significantly (p<0.05) lower among students who participated in jogging followed by sauna (JFBS), performed martial arts and attended general physical education (PE) classes. Physiological parameters were the highest in the martial art group, followed by JFBS and swimming groups, and they were significantly (p<0.05) higher than the values recorded in other PA groups (golf, aerobics, general PE classes, cycling, and individual training). Physiological parameters were significantly (p<0.05) lower among students who played golf and trained individually. Conclusions: Martial arts, JFBS, and swimming were the most effective types of PA among female university students. Students performing martial arts and JFBS had relatively lower body fat levels, whereas students who practiced swimming had the highest body fat levels in the population sample.
Highlights
Physical activity (PA) decreases the risk of overweight and obesity, lowers total cholesterol levels, and blood pressure[1]
New forms of PA are being introduced to the universities in order to increase the attractiveness of physical education (PE) programs, including fitness-based activities, such as aerobics and jazz gymnastics, as well as activities that are generally popular among young adults, such as snowboarding, and high intensity-functional training (HIFT), including high-intensity interval training (HIIT), high-intensity circuit training (HICT) and Crossfit[3,4]
Each group consisted of twenty-five students, who enrolled in various PA programs, such as golf, martial arts, jogging followed by sauna (JFBS), swimming, traditional Physical Education (PE) classes, cycling, and individual training
Summary
Physical activity (PA) decreases the risk of overweight and obesity, lowers total cholesterol levels, and blood pressure[1]. According to the American College of Sports Medicine[2], adults should perform at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity cardiorespiratory exercise training five times per week (total of ≥ 150 min · wk-1), or at least 20 minutes of vigorous-intensity cardiorespiratory exercise training three times per week (total of ≥ 75 min · wk-1), or a combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity exercise to achieve a total energy expenditure of ≥500–1000 MET · min · wk-1. The growing scientific awareness of active lifestyle contributions to overall health has prompted educational reforms targeting PE curricula worldwide and has ushered changes in the existing approach to PE and health education. PA programs in higher education have changed and no longer resemble obligatory physical education (PE) classes from the past. New forms of PA are being introduced to the universities in order to increase the attractiveness of PE programs, including fitness-based activities, such as aerobics and jazz gymnastics, as well as activities that are generally popular among young adults, such as snowboarding, and high intensity-functional training (HIFT), including high-intensity interval training (HIIT), high-intensity circuit training (HICT) and Crossfit[3,4]
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