Moreno-Bayona JA

Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 553-566
PDF size: 135.59 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Nowadays, sedentarism is a behavior related to multiple non-transmissible chronic and cardiovascular diseases. This behavior every day is getting more prevalence among adolescent and young people due to modern lifestyles.
Objective: This study aims to determine the levels of sedentarism among undergraduate university students.
Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in students of the Health Sciences Faculty at Universidad de Pamplona, Colombia, and these students were active roll during the first academic period of 2016. 346 students participated and they accepted voluntarily to answer the International Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adults (IPAQ-A) short version. They were apparently healthy and without a diagnosis of any condition or disability that hamper them to do regular physical activity. The average age of this group was 18,9 years old.
Results: The prevalence of sedentarism in the sample was 42,77 %, being the students of Medicine Department the most physically active, and the students of Nursing Department the most sedentary. There were not any differences among males and females.
Conclusions: Sedentarism levels found in undergraduate university students is high, therefore it is necessary to implement new strategies that encourage people to develop healthier lifestyles.