Physical Exercise among University Students and The Role of the University in its Promotion

Introduction: Going to university leads to a series of changes in the life of a student, especially with regards to physical exercise.

Objectives: the comparison between the physical exercise habits of students of University of Coimbra, Portugal and students of Yasar University in Ismir, Turkey. Evaluation of the roles of universities in practicing physical exercise.

Material and Methods: Observational analytical study, using data collected by means of a questionnaire on physical exercise. 818 students participated - 428 from Yasar University in Ismir, Turkey, and 390 from University of Coimbra, Portugal. The data were collected during the 1^st Semester of the 2018/2019 academic year. The statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS, version 22 (p<0.5).

Results: 818 students were included - 428 from Yasar University in Ismir, Turkey (162 males and 266 females) and 390 from University of Coimbra, Portugal (136 males and 254 females). The average age of the students was 21-22 years old.

Half of the students practiced physical exercise (Yasar 46.3% / Coimbra 50%). Half practiced physical exercise less than 3 times a year (Yasar 47.6% and 52% in Coimbra).

Most of the students had practiced physical exercise prior to going to university. The university was considered a decisive factor for the practice of physical exercise by 56.7% at Coimbra vs. 39.7% at Izmir (p<0.001).

A minority recognised the role of the universities in practicing physical exercise - 2.1% at Coimbra and 0.9% at Izmir.

Only 3.1% of the Coimbra students who practice physical exercise do so at the university, in comparison to 28.5% of the students at Izmir (p<0.001).

The reasons cited were: lack of knowledge by 23.9% of the Coimbra students and 7.8% of the students at Yasar (p<0.001) and lack of time by 54.8% of the students at Yasar and 46.9% of the Coimbra students (p<0.001).

Most of the students who practice physical activity have a normal BMI.

Conclusions/ Discussion

Half of the students practice physical exercise. The role of physical activity for having a healthy life is recognised by students. Most university students have an adequate body mass index.

The majority of the students who practice physical exercise do so out of the university. Students at Yasar recognise the positive role of the university for practicing exercise.

Universities will have to reflect and take measures to encourage physical activity.