Background/Purpose - CDC/ACSM recommended Americans 18-65 need moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity for 30 minutes five days each week. USDHHS (2008) reported moderate-vigorous physical activity significantly improved health and lowered risks of several diseases. CDC reported 23.7% of American adults were sedentary (2005), less than half met physical activity recommendations (2006), and rates of physical activity begin to significantly decline before adolescence (2007). University of the Incarnate Word requires undergraduate students take a wellness class to graduate. The curriculum emphasizes improved physical well-being and provides 30-minute structured aerobic exercise activities every class. This study wanted to determine if the wellness class produced improvements in student aerobic fitness levels and exercise attitudes.
Method - Data were collected from 86 self-identified sedentary students (female-72/male-14). Pre/Post 1 ½ mile times and Cooper Institute norms were used to assess aerobic fitness. The Exercise Identity Scale was used to assess student exercise attitudes. T-tests determined differences with level of significance p < .05.
Analysis/Results - Average pre-test 1 ½ mile time was 17:33 and post-test was 16:12. Pre-test Cooper Institute cardiovascular fitness norms averaged 25.41 and improved to 33.5. An 8% improvement in run times and 8.14% increase in cardiovascular fitness were achieved. Pre-test EIS scores were 32.48 and post-test 36.98. The differences in all measurements were significant at .000 level.
Conclusions - This study suggests university wellness classes that provide fitness information and structured aerobic exercise to sedentary students can significantly improve exercise attitudes and aerobic fitness levels by more than 8% in three months.