The health and fitness profiles of sport studies students at a tertiary institution in South Africa.
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Date
2014
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Abstract
Introduction
The first time most adolescents start to take care of themselves with limited parental
support is when they attend university. The watchful guidance of parental support
typically wanes and students start to change their habits to suit their lifestyle. This
study therefore presents data and related analysis of health and fitness profiles of a
selected cohort of students.
Aim of the Study:
The aim of this study was to determine the health and fitness profiles of Sports
Studies students at a tertiary institution in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Methodology:
The study was a cross-sectional design of undergraduate students. Three separate
year groups (first year, second year and third year) were recruited. A purposive
sample of first, (n=70) second (n=90) and third (n=90) year Sport Studies students
completed a health questionnaire and a range of physical fitness tests. Descriptive
and inferential techniques including the use of correlations and chi square test
values were used to analyse data.
Results:
The sample consisted of 165 students with a mean age of 21.48 years (SD±2.48).
First year’s (n = 41) comprised 24.85% of the sample, while second year’s (n = 62)
37.58% and third year’s (n = 62) 37.58%. The sample comprised of 116 males
(70.3%) and 49 females (29.7%). According to South African racial classifications the
sample consisted of 86.1% of the students who self-identified as Black African, 7.9%
Indian, 3.6% Coloured and 2.4% White. The cohort’s mean BMI was 24.09 kg/m²,
with a general increase from first year (22.65 kg/m²) to second year (24.24 kg/m²)
and to third year (24.87 kg/m²). Similarly, there was a mean increase in body weight
of 4.09kgs between first and second year, and a mean increase of 3.81kgs from
second to third year. In total, there was a mean body weight increase of 7.9kgs from
first to third year.
The mean body fat was 13.32% for the cohort with first year females at 23.87% and
first year males 6.44%. In total, 31.5% males and 4.8% females were overweight or
obese. Only 1.8% of the total sample was underweight.
There was a mean increase in relative VO₂max in the study cohort (1st years 31.86
ml.kgˉ¹.minˉ¹, 2nd years 33.47 ml.kgˉ¹.minˉ¹ and 3rd years 34.42 ml.kgˉ¹.minˉ¹). The
mean VO₂max for the entire sample was 33.43 ml.kgˉ¹.minˉ¹ with male students
averaging 36.48 ml.kgˉ¹.minˉ¹ and female students 26.1 ml.kgˉ¹.minˉ¹..
It was reported 78.2% of the sample exercised on a regular basis, with 72.9% being
male.
Conclusions:
Overall results showed that throughout the three years of study, weight and body fat
percentage of students increased progressively along with body mass index, waist
circumference and waist-to-hip ratios. Such increases are of utmost concern and
may be directly associated with low physical activity levels and poor dietary habits.
A decrease in physical activity, frequency and participation may be the cause of the
reported decrease in physical fitness levels. This area of concern may be a major
factor related to the general increase in selected anthropometric measurements.
Also prevalent was the variance in results between males and females, with males
accounting for 72.9% of regular exercisers. The discrepancy in gender and physical
activity and fitness levels is of concern.
Description
Master of Sport Science. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville 2014.
Keywords
Physical fitness., College students--Health aspects., Physical education and training., Theses--Sport science.