Behavioral and Physiological Health-Related Risk Factors in College Students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the behavioral and physiological health-related risk factors in college students. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1620 college students (21.3 ± 1.7 years, 897 males, and 723 females). Physical activity (PA), sitting time, body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscular endurance (ME), and blood test were assessed. In the total sample, 15.2% were not meeting PA guidelines, 33% were sedentary, 13.3% were obese, 10.7% had low CRF, 36.8% had poor ME, 33.7% had dyslipidemia and 5.9% presented with prediabetes. Obesity and poor CRF were more prevalent in male students, whereas inactivity was more prevalent in female students. Individuals with poor CRF were more likely to be obese (odds ratio = 5.2, 95% CI = 3.5-7.8, P = .007 for male students, and 9.4, 95% CI = 1.5-57.8, P = .021 for female students). Sitting time positively correlated with fat percentage (fat%) and inversely with lean body mass (LBM) in male students, whereas ME inversely correlated with fat% and positively with LBM in female students. Although most students were active, significant prevalence of health-related risk factors were observed. Sedentary behavior and poor fitness were associated with a compromised body composition in both sexes. Improving fitness and reducing sedentary behavior in college students could be a public health strategy for health promotion and chronic diseases prevention.