OVERVIEW OF THE FITNESS PARAMETERS IN THE STUDENTS OF PÉCS UNIVERSITY

Background

Fitness status of any population is greatly determined by its individuals’ behaviours. Healthy lifestyle involving physical activity, which is associated with outstanding stamina, is an essential factor in the success of the growing generation. Effects of physical activity and benefits of regular exercising have been examined in several national and international studies [1,2,3,4]. Sedentary lifestyle and increasing obesity are typical not only of youth but of the whole society [5]. Besides, health behaviour of young adults abounds in poor eating habits and lack of regular and quality sports activities. It should also be mentioned that obesity is more and more visible in childhood, which is becoming a risk factor in older generations [6,7,8,9,10,11]. A survey in Texas examined the fitness level of 1010 elementary and high school students. According to the conducted anthropometric measurements, every third child was classified as obese [11].
Further, international research shows that the findings of school anthropometric and fitness tests correlate with the students’ physical activities [12,13,6]. These findings greatly affect adults’ fitness level, i.e. there is a strong correlation between stamina in childhood and adulthood [9,10].
Childhood obesity is said to be a public health problem in Hungary as well; therefore, state interventions should popularize regular exercise and regard it as a priority. Above all, it should be emphasized that one can find pleasure in everyday physical activity but students’ motivation and interests should be taken into account. Educational institutions in Hungary have been measuring fitness indicators for a decade now. Measurement and evaluation of motor skills in students have always been a priority in public education. In order to facilitate the process, the National Integrated Student Fitness Test (NETFIT), a health-centred and criterion-oriented test, was developed by the Hungarian Student Sports Association in cooperation with the Cooper Institute. It has been applied as a fitness measurement test in Hungarian schools since the academic year 2014/15 [14].
According to the former, international surveys examining young adults [12,15,16,17,18], numerous students in higher education struggle with excessive weight, which affects the results of their motor skills (shuttle run, powered long-jump) unfavourably [19,20,21], despite the fact that a survey from 2008 showed no correlation between obesity and flexibility [15]. During their university years, students’ health behaviour deteriorates, which is associated mainly with weight gain [16,18]. Wetter et al. [18] carried out a long-term (a five-year) study in students in higher education. Having conducted the test, they came to the conclusion that young people’s health indicators, i.e. body weight, BMI, BP and stamina, deteriorated significantly within the period.
A comprehensive test evaluating the fitness status has not been applied in young Hungarian adults yet. Thus, in the present study we wish to examine the stamina of students in higher education, because young people’s health behaviour, fitness status, and nutrition habits, as indicated in the previous research, are below of the recommended values. The following survey bases on the students of Pécs University’s results, in which their motor skills were examined by the NETFIT fitness assessment test. The objective of the study was to present a comprehensive view on young people’s fitness status and BMI.

Material and methods

The survey was conducted several times in the year 2015, during which sample groups were examined. The participants were recruited from the students of Pécs University and altogether comprised 278 persons. When broken by gender, the survey group predominantly consisted of men (79.13%), whereas women amounted to 21.87% of its population.
The students were tested in six NETFIT motor skills tests: (1) a 15/20-minute-long shuttle run, (2) abdominal muscle test (3) manual clamping force measurement (4) a push up test (5) a standing long-jump test, and (6) a flexibility test. The persons’ motor fitness level was assessed with a motor test. A view on one’s nutrition status was received in anthropometric examinations. The BMI was calculated on ones’ body height and weight. In addition, body fat percentage as well as muscle and visceral fat mass were also measured.
The data were processed by IBM SPSS 21.0 statistical software. For the comparative analysis of the variables, a variance analysis (ANOVA) was applied. The significance level assumed in the study was p<0.05 with 95% confidence interval.

Results

As for the achieved results from anthropometric measurements, it turned out that they were heterogeneous in both sexes. The data of the participants mainly concerned their body weight and height. On calculating the BMI, it was found that 68% of the men and 66.5% of the women were classified as normal. 23% of the men and 28% of the women were classified as obese (Figure 1). The body composition was assessed by measuring visceral fat surrounding the essential organs located in the abdomen. In the light of the achieved results regarding the visceral body fat, it was concluded that the status of both sexes was positive as there were few persons in high risk category in the sample group (normal range:1-9%; higher risk range: above 9% in both sexes).
As for body fat percentage, the sample results were again heterogeneous. The measured differences were due to the sex differences in most of the cases and to the increased fat mass in some cases. The latter case was evidenced in those with excessive weight in BMI (two men, four obese women with extreme values). Then, skeletal muscles were measured, which usually amount to 40% of the body weight and 50% in athletes. Skeletal muscle percentage in men varied between 15.4 and 49.1% with the mean of 37.67%. This indicator for women was 28.31%..
Next, basal metabolism (at rest) was measured with a bioimpedance device. Basal metabolism ranged between 1 388 a nd 1947 kcal in men, mean 1792kcal. The measured metabolism in women ranged between 1153 and1825 kcal. In all, the mean metabolism for women stood at 1375 kcal.
The fitness status based on all physical fitness measures included in the motor test, which was performed according to NETFIT regulations.
As for manual clamping force test, both limbs were measured separately. On comparing the measured values in both hands, the clamping force of the right hand was stronger in both sexes with a slight difference visible. The average of the right manual clamping force in men was 48.33 kg (left hand: 46.1 kg). The average of the right manual clamping force in women was 31.6 kg (left hand: 29.2 kg) (Figure 2).
Trunk muscles strength was measured by two tests: First, a scheduled ABS test was applied to measure ABS strength. Then, the distance between the tubercle and the ground during a single strain lift to measure trunk muscles strength was calculated (Figure 3).
The explosive strength of the legs was tested in the standing long-jump exercise. Men achieved 209.7 cm on average. The average value for women was 182 cm.
Similarly to ABS test, the test measuring shoulder strength was carried out as a push-up exercise with a scheduled NETFIT soundtrack. 20-45 repetitions were measured in men, and 8-28 in women. This difference was manifested in the average counts. In case of men, the mean number of repetitions amounted to 31, whereas for women − 16.8 (Figure 4).
The next test was hip joint examination which was to determine flexibility on both sides. The average value in right side flexibility was 32 cm for men, and 38.2 cm for women (Figure 5).
The aerobic fitness profile was determined by the agility shuttle run. Participants had to run back and forth between two marked lines over a 20-metre distance. The survey measured the number of repetitions of the full distances. The number of full distances in men ranged from 49 to78; therefore the average in the sample group stood at 62.3. Fewer full distanced were evidenced in women as they ranged between 22 and 39. The average of repetitions in the female group amounted to 34.5 (Figure 6).
Next, fitness parameters were compared to the those specified by the BMI categories. Significant differences were found in several cases, but some of them showed significant correlations between BMI and fitness tests. In case of men, the body weight affected the left manual clamping force (p<0.29) and the push-up test (p<0.09) significantly. As for women’s results, a significant correlation was found in two tests. The BMI determined standing long-jump (p<0.00) and 20-meter shuttle run (p<0.17) in women. Finally, the findings of the joint flexibility do not indicate any significant relationship between one’s BMI and flexibility in either of the sexes.

Conclusion, discussion

The present study aimed to show the fitness and nutrition habits in the students at Pécs University in order to achieve a comprehensive view of health behaviour and motor skills in young adults.
The obtained findings on the nutrition habits are supported by several, previously done studies. Basing on the BMI categorization, one third of the study group’s participants were found to be overweight or obese. Presently, as indicated by national and international data, childhood obesity spreads like an epidemic. It also seems to be becoming an increasing risk factor for adults as they age [5,6,7,8]. 15.3% of the non–athletic boys are overweight already at the age of 9, and this number doubles by the age of 15 (31%). As for girls, the rate of obesity amounts to 21% at the age of 10. Accordingly, more than half of them can be considered as overweight (53%) at the age of 15 [22]. San Miguel [11] examined 1010 elementary and high school students and his results showed that one third of the participants were classified as overweight or obese.
Similar results to the ones obtained at Pécs University are seen in international research concerning the nutrition habits of young adults [9,21]. For example, the nutrition habits and fitness status of 162 adults in higher education were examined in Lincoln, 2012. 31% of the participants were classified as overweight [21]. Another two American research outcomes presented an even more worrying results in smaller groups. Out of 36 students in higher education, 19 persons’ BMI exceeded the normal indicators [19]. Another study, assessing 18-year-old females, found that more than half of the sample group (n=61) were overweight (32 persons) basing on the anthropometric tests and BMI categorization [22].
Several studies indicated a correlation between one’s performance and their silhouette in the conducted fitness tests. Fogelholm [15] compared the fitness results of 15/16-year-old students (n=2266) to their body weight. Similarly to our results, a negative correlation was found between stamina, explosive strength and body weight. At the same time, the findings into joint flexibility and body weight did not show any significant correlation. A two-year-long longitudinal study carried out in the years 2006-2008 examined the correlation between stamina and overweight in young people. Aerobic endurance was measured in the shuttle run. The assessment of overweight was made the BMI calculator. The follow-up study found significant correlation between low aerobic fitness test results in the shuttle run and disproportionate weight gain [23].
Artero et al. [12] carried out fitness tests in several groups of adolescents between the ages of 13-18 years. In their examination, not only overweight but malnutrition were taken into account. It turned out that overweight affected some fitness tests in a negative way (shuttle run, standing long-jump, hanging with bent arms), but another trial (manual clamping force) was affected in a positive way. On the other hand, malnourished persons performed better in hanging with bent arms, but their manual clamping force was worse than that of persons who had normal weight or were overweight.
There was also an American study involving 772 college students, which assessed stamina, muscle force, and flexibility (ABS, push-up tests, sit and reach trial). The outcome of the research showed a negative correlation between stamina (p<0.00), BMI, and flexibility (p<0.01). Further, there was no significant correlation between ABS, push-up tests, and BMI [9].
Finally, it must be stressed that young adults often encounter changes in their lives and tasks associated with stress, which often result from new challenges (relocation, new community, changed social role). Several studies reported that young people are affected by chronic stress effects following the high school period [24]. People tend to reduce their stress by unhealthy habits and improper nutrition. Besides, they pay less attention to healthy lifestyle, which could significantly affect their future life. Our study focused on a critical age group because college students’ lifestyle can be characterized by reduced health protection and increased health harming behaviours. Being aware of these facts, we hope that this age group is also going to raise their health awareness concerning fitness.
Both national and international studies suggest that further efforts associated with health promotion in higher education are needed. The introduction of such measurements might be a solution that could influence young people’s health behaviour. For example, compulsory physical education classes in higher education in which students would need to meet the demands in at least one sports course in order to get a diploma would represent a significant step forward. Finally, it must be said that longitudinal studies need further research in which the changes in young adults’ fitness could be measured. An introduction of compulsory physical education courses would facilitate such research.

Disclosure and acknowledgements

This work/article was supported by the GINOP 2.3.2-15-2016-00047 grant.

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