Scientific advances in the analysis of physical fitness and body composition of university students
Keywords:
physical capacities, bioelectrical impedance, socioeconomic level, motor performance, young people.Abstract
Introduction: The capabilities that enable a person to perform physical activity over a prolonged period determine his or her physical fitness. Body composition includes muscle mass, fat mass, bone mass, among others.
Objective: To analyze the scientific evidence on physical fitness and body composition in university students.
Methods: A systematic review of studies on physical fitness and body composition of university students was carried out based on the PRISMA guidelines. Scopus and Web of Science databases were consulted. The methodological quality assessment scale determined the risk of bias of the publications.
Results: Forty-two studies from 17 countries were analyzed. The information was organized on the basis of the variables body composition, muscular strength, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, speed and coordination abilities.
Conclusions: The physical fitness of college students has declined in recent decades, according to comparative studies with populations from 20 to 30 years ago. Although height and body mass index increased in some populations, the level of motor skills decreased. This evidences the need to implement strategies that include more physical activity in university students.
Downloads
References
1. Kljajević V, Stanković M, Ðorđević D, Trkulja-Petković D, Jovanović R, Plazibat K, et al. Physical activity and physical fitness among university students-A systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(1). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010158
2. Podstawski R, Finn KJ, Clark CCT, Ihasz F, Alfodi Z, Žurek P. The intensities of various forms of physical activity in physical education programs offered by universities for male university students. Act Kinesiol. 2021;15(1):42-51. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.51371/issn.1840-2976.2021.15.1.5
3. Kochman M, Kasperek W, Guzik A, Drużbicki M. Body composition and physical fitness: does this relationship change in 4 years in young adults? Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(3):1579. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031579
4. World Health Organization (WHO). WHO Guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. WHO; 2020 [acceso 10/10/2023]. Disponible en: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240015128
5. Reiner-Henrich M, Niermann C, Jekauc D, Woll A. Long-term health benefits of physical activity-a systematic review of longitudinal studies. BMC Public Health. 2013;13(1):813. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-813
6. Xu S, Liu Z, Tian S, Ma Z, Jia C, Sun G. Physical activity and resilience among college students: the mediating effects of basic psychological needs. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(7):3722. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073722
7. Chang YK. Chapter 5-Acute exercise and event-related potential: current status and future prospects. Exer Cognition Interaction, Nerosci Perspectives. 2016:105-30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-800778-5.00005-0
8. Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, Boutron I, Hoffmann TC, Mulrow CD, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ. 2021;372:n71. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
9. Law M, Stewart D, Pollock N, Letts L, Bosch J, Westmorland M. Critical Review Form-Quantitative Studies. McMaster University; 1998 [acceso 10/10/2023]. Disponible en: https://canchild.ca/system/tenon/assets/attachments/000/000/366/original/quantguide.pdf
10. Parra-Soto S, Poblete-Valderrama F, Lamana RZ, Cigarroa I, Iturra J, Cenzano-Castillo L, et al. Relationship between anthropometric characteristics, self-perception of body mass index, physical condition and eating habits in university health and education students. Rev Chil Nutr. 2023;50(1):20-6. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-75182023000100020
11. Torres-Costoso A, Garrido-Miguel M, Gracia-Marco L, López-Muñoz P, Reina-Gutiérrez S, Arenas-Arroyo SN, et al. The “fat but fit” paradigm and bone health in young adults: A cluster analysis. Nutr. 2021;13(2):1-12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13020518
12. Hollerbach BS, Cosgrove SJ, Deblauw JA, Jitnarin N, Poston WSC, Heinrich KM. Muscular strength, power, and endurance adaptations after two different university fitness classes. Sports. 2021;9(8). DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/sports9080107
13. Lazăr AG, Leuciuc FV. Study concerning the physical fitness of romanian students and its effects on their health-related quality of life. Sustain. 2021;13(12):6821. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126821
14. Wilson-Barnes SL, Hunt JEA, Mendis J, Williams EL, King D, Roberts H, et al. The relationship between vitamin D status, intake and exercise performance in UK university-level athletes and healthy inactive controls. PLoS One. 2021;16(4). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0249671
15. Martín-Espinosa NM, Garrido-Miguel M, Martínez-Vizcaíno V, González-García A, Redondo-Tébar A, Cobo-Cuenca AI. The mediating and moderating effects of physical fitness of the relationship between adherence to the mediterranean diet and health-related quality of life in university students. Nutr. 2020;12(11):1-15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12113578
16. Görner K, Reineke A. The influence of endurance and strength training on body composition and physical fitness in female students. J Phys Edu Sport. 2020;20:2013-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2020.s3272
17. Ramírez-Vélez R, Correa-Rodríguez M, Izquierdo M, Schmidt-Riovalle J, González-Jiménez E. Muscle fitness to visceral fat ratio, metabolic syndrome and ideal cardiovascular health metrics. Nutr. 2019;11(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11010024
18. Podstawski R, Żurek P. Secular changes in the anthropometric and motor characteristics of Polish male university students between 2000 and 2018. Am J Hum Biol. 2021;33(2). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.23520
19. Podstawski R, Markowski P, Choszcz D, Boraczynski M, Gronek P. Socioeconomic determinants of the anthropometric characteristics and motor abilities of polish male university students: a cross-sectional study conducted in 2000-2018. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(4). DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17041300
20. Podstawski R, Marzec A. Relationships between socioeconomic factors versus the anthropometric and motor characteristics of Polish female university students (2000-2018). Phys Activ Rev. 2021;9(1):117-27. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.16926/par.2021.09.14
21. Lewandowski A, Siedlaczek M, Piekorz Z. Long-term changes in physical fitness components determining the motor performance of young people studying physiotherapy in 2001-2020. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41803-0
22. Lelonek M, Przychodni A, Lorger M, Ciesla E, Suliga E. Handgrip strength and body mass index in Polish and Croatian female university students of preschool and primary education. Med Stud. 2022;38(4):287-94. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5114/ms.2022.122385
23. Cao JH, Zhao F, Ren ZY. Association between changes in muscle strength and risk of depressive symptoms among chinese female college students: a prospective cohort Study. Front Public Health. 2021;9. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.616750
24. Atencio-Osorio MA, Carrillo-Arango HA, Ramírez-Vélez R. Association between physical fitness and depressive symptoms in university students: a cross-sectional analysis. Nutr Hosp. 2022;39(6):1369-77. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.20960/nh.04337
25. O’Brien MW, Shivgulam ME, Wojcik WR, Barron BA, Seaman RE, Fowles JR. 30 year trends of reduced physical fitness in undergraduate students studying human movement. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(21). DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192114099
26. Kung YT, Chang CM, Hwang FM, Chi SC. The association between body mass index and physical fitness of normal weight/overweight/obese university students. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(15):1-18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155391
27. Tian Q, Wang H, Kaudimba KK, Guo S, Zhang H, Gao S, et al. Characteristics of physical fitness and cardiometabolic risk in chinese university students with normal-weight obesity: A cross-sectional study. Diab Metabol Syndr Obes. 2020;13:4157-67. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/DMSO.S280350
28. Zhang C, Liu Y, Xu S, Sum RKW, Ma R, Zhong P, et al. Exploring the level of physical fitness on physical activity and physical literacy among chinese university students: a cross-sectional study. Front Psychol. 2022;13:833461. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.833461
29. Wilson OWA, Kamara K, Papalia Z, Bopp M, Bopp CM. Changes in hypertension diagnostic criteria enhance early identification of at risk college students. Transl J Am Coll Sports Med. 2020;5(1):1-5. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/TJX.0000000000000114
30. Azmi NA, Zaki NTA, Kong MC, Ab Rahman NNA, Zanudin A. Correlation of physical activity level with physical fitness and respiratory function amongst undergraduates. Trends Sci. 2021;18(19). DOI: https://doi.org/10.48048/tis.2021.24
31. Kong L, Cui Y, Gong Q. Duration of daytime napping is related to physical fitness among chinese university students. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(22). DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215250
32. Kaewwong SC, Chainarong A, Namwaing P, Pansri W, Sritha P, Boonwang T, et al. The circuit exercise improved physical fitness and cardiovascular endurance in male college students. Gazzetta Med Ital Arch Sci Med. 2023;182(3):121-5. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23736/S0393-3660.22.04913-0
33. Lu Y, Wiltshire HD, Baker JS, Wang Q, Ying S. The effect of Tabata-style functional high-intensity interval training on cardiometabolic health and physical activity in female university students. Front Physiol. 2023;14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2023.1095315
34. Lu Z, Li Z, Mao C, Tan Y, Zhang X, Zhang L, et al. Correlation between campus-built environment and physical fitness in college students in Xi’an-A GIS approach. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(13):7948. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19137948
35. Bonilla DA, Sánchez-Rojas IA, Mendoza-Romero D, Moreno Y, Kočí J, Gómez-Miranda LM, et al. Profiling physical fitness of physical education majors using unsupervised machine learning. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(1). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010146
36. López-Sánchez GF, Radzimiński Ł, Skalska M, Jastrzębska J, Smith L, Wakuluk D, et al. Body composition, physical fitness, physical activity and nutrition in Polish and Spanish female students of sports sciences. Sci Sports. 2020;35(1):e21-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scispo.2019.04.002
37. López-Sánchez GF, Radzimiński Ł, Skalska M, Jastrzębska J, Smith L, Wakuluk D, et al. Body composition, physical fitness, physical activity and nutrition in polish and spanish male students of sports sciences: Differences and correlations. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(7). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16071148
38. Yoo JI, Cho J, Baek KW, Kim MH, Kim JS. Relationship between smartphone use time, sitting time, and fitness level in university students. Exer Sci. 2020;29(2):170-7. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15857/ksep.2020.29.2.170
39. Pacholek M, Zemková E, Arnolds K, ? agát P. The effects of a 4-week combined aerobic and resistance training and volleyball training on fitness variables and body composition on STEAM students. Appl Sci. 2021;11(18):8397. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/app11188397
40. Garrido‐Miguel M, Martínez V, Fernández‐Rodríguez R, Martínez‐Ortega IA, Hernández LE, Bizzozero B, et al. The role of physical fitness in the relationship between nut consumption and body composition in young adults. Nutr. 2021;13(6). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu13062126
41. Alnuaimi J, Al-Za’abi A, Yousef IA, Belghali M, Liftawi SM, Shraim ZF, et al. Effect of a health-based-physical activity intervention on university sudents’ physically active behaviors and perception. IJSDP. 2023;18(5):1451-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18280/ijsdp.180515
42. Muntaner-Mas A, Sanchez-Azanza VA, Ortega FB, Vidal-Conti J, Borr? s PA, Cantallops J, et al. The effects of a physical activity intervention based on a fatness and fitness smartphone app for University students. Health Inform J. 2021;27(1). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1460458220987275
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Aquellos autores/as que tengan publicaciones con esta revista, aceptan los términos siguientes: Los autores/as conservarán sus derechos de autor y garantizarán a la revista el derecho de primera publicación de su obra, el cuál estará simultáneamente sujeto a la Licencia de reconocimiento de Creative Commons (CC-BY-NC 4.0) que permite a terceros compartir la obra siempre que se indique su autor y su primera publicación esta revista. Los autores/as podrán adoptar otros acuerdos de licencia no exclusiva de distribución de la versión de la obra publicada (p. ej.: depositarla en un archivo telemático institucional o publicarla en un volumen monográfico) siempre que se indique la publicación inicial en esta revista. Se permite y recomienda a los autores/as difundir su obra a través de Internet (p. ej.: en archivos telemáticos institucionales o en su página web) antes y durante el proceso de envío, lo cual puede producir intercambios interesantes y aumentar las citas de la obra publicada. (Véase El efecto del acceso abierto).
Como Revista Cubana de Investigaciones Biomédicas forma parte de la red SciELO, una vez los artículos sean aceptados para entrar al proceso editorial (revisión), estos pueden ser depositados por parte de los autores, si estan de acuerdo, en SciELO preprints, siendo actualizados por los autores al concluir el proceso de revisión y las pruebas de maquetación.
