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. 2023 Jun;94(2):485-492.
doi: 10.1080/02701367.2021.2009431. Epub 2022 Apr 19.

Associations Between College/University Physical Activity Requirements and Student Physical Activity

Caitlin P Bailey  1 , Mark Lowry  2 , Melissa A Napolitano  1 , Mary T Hoban  3 , Christine Kukich  3 , Frank M Perna  2
Affiliations

Associations Between College/University Physical Activity Requirements and Student Physical Activity

Caitlin P Bailey et al. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2023 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Most U.S. college students do not meet physical activity guidelines. Physical activity requirements (PAR) are a proposed solution for increasing undergraduate physical activity. Purpose: To determine whether college/university PAR are associated with undergraduates' self-reported physical activity. Methods: Undergraduate students (N = 383,632) attending colleges and universities taking part in the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment II survey (2015-2019) self-reported physical activity and demographics. Using websites and course catalogs, researchers coded schools to indicate binary PAR status. Bayesian Hierarchical Logistic Regression was used to determine the percentage of students meeting physical activity guidelines; interactions between PAR status and student characteristics (sex, BMI) were examined. Results: PAR status was positively associated with percent of students meeting physical activity guidelines (PAR: 43.3%, without: 40.5%; difference score 95% Highest Density Interval [HDI; 1.0, 4.5]). A greater percentage of students attending schools with PAR, versus without, met physical activity guidelines across all categories of sex and weight. However, the positive relationship between PAR status and physical activity was stronger among male students (PAR: 46.7%, without: 43.2%; 95% HDI [1.6, 5.4]) compared to female students (PAR: 39.9%, without: 37.9%; 95% HCI [0.2, 3.8]), and among students with underweight (PAR: 39.2%, without: 35.5%; 95% HDI [1.2, 6.3]) or obesity (PAR: 37.1%, without: 33.7%; 95% HDI [1.4, 5.3]) compared to normal weight (PAR: 49.3%, without: 47.4%; 95% HDI [0.1, 3.7]) or overweight (PAR: 47.5%, without: 45.5%; 95% HDI [0.1, 4.0]). Conclusions: PAR are associated with meeting physical activity guidelines, particularly among college/university students with underweight or obesity.

Keywords: College/university; physical activity; policy; requirement; student.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not represent the position of NCI, the NIH, or ACHA.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Adjusted percentage of students meeting physical activity guidelines by PAR status and BMI. Error bars represent 95% Highest Density Intervals.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Adjusted percentage of students meeting physical activity guidelines by PAR status and sex. Error bars represent 95% Highest Density Intervals.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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