Lifestyles and fitness levels of kinesiology students at UDLA University (Chile) in the first half of 2008

Abstract

The lifestyle of the population has been changing towards more sedentary and less healthy. The young people, college-age, is a vulnerable population in this area, because at this stage adopting behaviors that can last a lifetime. The consumption of tobacco, drugs and physical inactivity are negative elements for healthy lifestyles. The purpose of this research was to investigate the lifestyles and physical activity level of students in Kinesiology at the University of the Americas, Chile. A total of 277 students, who were interviewed with the survey FANTASTICO and the international questionnaire of physical activity IPAQ. The results for the survey FANTASTICO showed a value for males of 85.4 ± 13.2 and 86.1 ± 11.5 for the womens. There was no significant difference. In the item of physical activity the value was 3.93 ± 1.4 for men and 3.45 ± 1.4 for women (p <0.05). In the item of alcohol and other drugs, the value was 9.42 ± 2.3 for men and 9.9 ± 2.4 for women (p <0.05). In the questionnaire IPAQ, the results were 4389 ± 4170 METS / min / week for men and 2314 ± 2991 METS / min / week for women (p <0.05). At the level of walking their values were 1013 ± 1667 METS /min / week for men and 837 ± 1353 METS / min / week for the womens. There was no significant difference. In general, according to the FANTASTICO survey, students are faced with a lifestyle appropriate, but the differences item indicate higher risk behaviors for men in terms of alcohol and drugs and lower levels of physical activity for the ladies. This agrees well with the results of the questionnaire IPAQ.