Physical fitness status of undergraduate students in physical education and sport

Abstract

Introduction: Assessing the physical fitness of Physical Education and Sports students is a priority to ensure their health and professional development. Objective: To evaluate and characterize the health-related physical fitness status of 50 students (30 women, 20 men) enrolled in the Physical Education and Sports program at the Autonomous University of Carmen, Mexico. Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted. The ALPHA-Fitness battery, adapted for young adults, was used to measure body composition (BMI and body fat percentage), musculoskeletal capacity (handgrip dynamometry and standing long jump), and aerobic capacity (Course-Navette Test). Differences by sex were analyzed using Student's t-test (p < .05). Results: The sample exhibited a predominantly healthy nutritional status (normal weight) and satisfactory levels (good) in muscle strength and power. However, 56% of the students were classified as having fair or low aerobic capacity. A marked sexual dimorphism was confirmed (p < .05), with males exhibiting higher values ​​for weight, height, and strength, while females presented a higher percentage of body fat. Conclusions: Although the studied population has optimal body composition and musculoskeletal fitness, it shows a concerning cardiovascular deficit. The urgent design of cross-curricular aerobic conditioning programs within the university curriculum is justified to mitigate the effects of regional sedentary lifestyles and the extreme climate.

Keywords: Physical fitness; College students; Physical education; Aerobic capacity; Public health.