Current Exercise Habits and Factors Affecting Physical Activity Participation Among University Students

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Physical activities are indispensable to be healthy and away from illness. Yet, students are spending time being sedentary due to rapid technological advancement. Highly active individual requires physical activity for 3 days and must accumulate at least 1500-3000 metabolic equivalent tasks (MET)-minutes per week or more days of moderate or vigorous intensity activities. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze factors affecting physical activity participation among university learners in the Philippines. METHODS: An International Physical Activity Questionnaire answered by 470 participants and modified 4 point Likert scale questionnaires was utilized. RESULTS: There were 222 females (47%), 248 males (53 %), and p-value < 0.05 adoted to justify the significance of the factors in this study. CONCLUSION: This study justified that most of the participants cannot engaged in physical activities due to lack of time. Future research with larger sample groups to accurately identify the factors and recommend changes to enhance participation is encouraged.