Physical Activity
Physical Activity is a key component of one's overall health and well-being, which is why it is important to meet the minimum requirements set forth in order to get the health benefits associated with regular physical activity. For more information on physical activity, visit the CDC's website about how much physical activity adults need.
The NCHA II uses the following guidelines for calculating meeting the recommendations for physical activity, based on the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association (2007): Moderate-intensity cardio or aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes on 5 or more days per week, or vigorous-intensity cardio or aerobic exercise for at least 20 minutes on 3 or more days per week.
Students meeting the recommendations for moderate-intensity exercise, vigorous-intensity
exercise, or a combination of the two (2 moderate-intensity exercise periods = 1 vigorous-intensity
exercise period).
Of Note:
- Students living in a campus residence hall (36%) are the least likely to be meeting the recommended guidelines for physical activity, while students living off-campus (60%) are meeting the recommended guidelines at one of the highest rates.
- Hispanic/Latinx (29%) and Asian or Pacific Islander (35%) students report lower rates of meeting the physical activity recommendation than their white and bi/multi-racial peers.