Level of physical activity in female university students of the health sciences division in Private University, Bucaramanga (Colombia)

Abstract

Introduction: Physical activity is used as a treatment for prevention and health promotion strategies, as well as an adjunct to pharmacological therapy, so evaluating risk factors at a physical, metabolic or behavioral level in female university students is a matter priority.

Objective: To evaluate the level of physical activity in female university students of the Health Sciences Division of a private university in Bucaramanga (Colombia).

Methodology: Cross-sectional study with a correlational scope, developed in female undergraduate and graduate students of the Health Sciences Division of the institution studied. The sample consisted of 155 university students who are located in an age range between 18 and 59 years. The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) full version was used, using Google Forms; the form included informed consent, as well as the presentation of the study to the ethics committee of the institution studied. The data were synthesized in a spreadsheet. from Microsoft Excel and analyzed in the SPSS 21.0 program. Physical activity was evaluated in the domains occupational, displacement, and free time.

Results: 83.87 % are between 18 and 24 years old; the predominant economic stratum is three (lower-middle); 91 % are in undergraduate; 81 % do not perform intense activity; 68 % do not perform moderate physical activity and 60.64 % spend more than two consecutive hours sitting or lying down in a typical day.

Conclusions: The low level of physical activity and the high level of sedentary behavior in women university students of the Health Sciences Division, becomes a factor that worries and alerts about the physical condition and its relationship with the health of the population.