THE INTENSITIES OF VARIOUS FORMS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS OFFERED BY UNIVERSITIES FOR MALE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of various forms of physical activity (PA) among male students in physical education (PE) programs offered by universities in Poland, Hungary and the United Kingdom. The study involved 200 full-time male university students (mean age: 19.86±0.82), enrolled in nine different PA programs. The participants’ anthropometric traits and body composition parameters were determined with the InBody analyser. Based on the students’ physiological parameters, the effectiveness of various types of PA was measured with Suunto. Ambit3 peak heart rate monitors during 60 minutes of physical exertion. The average values of body mass, body mass index (BMI), body fat mass (BFM), percent body fat (PBF), waist hip ratio (WHR), and visceral fat (VFL) were significantly (p<0.05) lower in students who performed jogging, followed by sauna (JFBS) and martial arts than in the remaining PA groups. Minutes of difficult and very difficult intensities were highest in martial art students, followed by jogging students, and they were significantly (p<0.05) higher than the values noted in the remaining PA groups (golf, bodybuilding/fitness, swimming, general PE classes, cycling and individual training). Physiological parameters were significantly (p<0.05) lowest in golf players and students who trained individually. Martial arts and JFBS are the most effective types of PA among male university students. Students performing martial arts and JFBS were characterized by the lowest relative, body fat, whereas students who practiced swimming had the highest body fat levels in the population sample.