Scheduled for Health Symposium: Assessing and Improving Outcomes in College Physical Activity Courses, Saturday, April 29, 2006, 8:45 AM - 10:00 AM, Convention Center: 150DEF


Cardiovascular Endurance Assessment of Students Enrolled in a College Dimensions of Wellness Course

Tanya Morgan, West Chester University, West Chester, PA

The purpose of this study was to assess the fitness and wellness of students enrolled in a Dimensions of Wellness course at West Chester University. A total of 134 students (47 males and 88 females, respectively) enrolled in HEA 100 Dimensions of Wellness completed a Fitness and Wellness Assessment as a course requirement. The students used Profile Plus 2002 General Version 2.1 to enter the data and compile this assessment. Other information was collected during class or with the help of the kinesiology lab, and included age, gender, blood pressure, BMI, body composition, timed walk/run, exercise total, exercise duration, exercise distance, calories expended, and average amount of exercise per day. Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and multiple regression were used in the statistical analysis. The mean age of the students was 20.11 (18 – 28). Mean VO2 was estimated at 42.04 ml/kg/mn, or “good.” Mean BMI was 23.54, mean body fat was 21.302, and the mean waist-to-hip ratio was 0.8867. The average time spent exercising per day was 14.44 minutes, with a mean duration of 0.5164 and a mean distance 2.057 miles during class. Average caloric expenditure was 525.23 per day during the data collection period. Multiple regression found that BMI, body fat, and W:H ratio measurements had a significant negative association on cardiovascular endurance (p<.000). Additionally, gender and exercise distance were significant at p< .01. Systolic blood pressure was also significant at p<.05. Overall, students were categorized as “good” in regards to cardiovascular endurance and BMI, although BMI was in the upper range of normal. The average exercise time of 14.44 minutes per day was far below the recommended health guidelines. The results of the multiple regression indicated that gender, BMI, exercise distance, body weight, body fat, waist-to-hip ratio, and systolic blood pressure were significantly associated with cardiovascular endurance. Being a male increased cardiovascular endurance by 2.376 compared to females in the study. The results of this study suggest that although the overall cardiovascular endurance of the students was “good,” there are several other areas that suggest improvement. BMI, is at the upper limits and should be a focus considering the fact this variable is negatively associated with cardiovascular endurance. This study also suggests that college students need to increase the amount of daily exercise to receive the maximum benefits. Future research could increase sample size and increase study duration to increase overall reliability.
Keyword(s): college level issues, exercise/fitness, physical activity

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