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Sleep and Related Disorders / Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Journal article
Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies · August 13, 2026
Early or partial results. Treat as a signal, not a conclusion.
This cross-sectional study of 821 Spanish first-year university students found that 13.6% failed to meet WHO minimum physical activity recommendations, low obesity prevalence (1.9%–4.2%), and a significant inverse association between physical activity and sedentary behaviour. The reliance on self-reported measures and absence of objective confirmation limits the ability to determine long-term health implications.
Cross-sectional study. First-year university students enrolled across academic fields in Spain.. n = 821. Spain.
Physical activity ranged from 2886 to 3365 metabolic equivalent minutes per week across academic fields 13.6% of students did not meet the minimum WHO physical activity recommendation (<600 MET-min/week) BMI-defined obesity prevalence was low (1.9%–4.2%)
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Clinicians should note that over one in eight university students in this cohort did not meet WHO activity recommendations, and males showed higher BMI; however, the reliance on self-reported data and cross-sectional design prevent confident assessment of causal mechanisms or long-term health risks. The authors acknowledge the need for objective measurement to confirm implications.
Cross-sectional study with self-reported data and no control group; describes activity patterns and associations but cannot establish causation and lacks objective measurement, limiting evidence strength for clinical decisions.
As stated by the source record.
Quoted from the source exactly as published.
Clinicians should note that over one in eight university students in this cohort did not meet WHO activity recommendations, and males showed higher BMI; however, the reliance on self-reported data and cross-sectional design prevent confident assessment of causal mechanisms or long-term health risks. The authors acknowledge the need for objective measurement to confirm implications.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
Monitoring physical activity and sedentary behaviour in university students is relevant due to prolonged sitting and potential musculoskeletal and metabolic health risks. Regular physical activity may be a non-invasive strategy to prevent obesity and reduce inactivity-related health problems. Objectives To assess physical activity and sedentary behaviour levels in university students and to examine associations between activity patterns, BMI-defined obesity, and musculoskeletal risk indicators. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 821 first-year university students. Physical activity and sedentary behaviour were assessed with the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire across work, transportation, and leisure domains. Sedentary behaviour was recorded as sitting time and interpreted as an indirect indicator of musculoskeletal risk. BMI-defined obesity was calculated from self-reported height and weight. Differences across academic fields were analysed using analysis of variance, two linear regression models explored predictors of BMI and sedentary behaviour. Results Physical activity ranged from 2886 to 3365 metabolic equivalent minutes per week across academic fields. Overall, 13.6% of students did not meet the minimum WHO physical activity recommendation (<600 MET-min/week). BMI-defined obesity prevalence was low (1.9%–4.2%). In the body mass index model, only gender was significant, with men showing higher values (B = −0.740, p=.004). In the sedentary behaviour model, physical activity was inversely associated with sedentary behaviour (B = −0.105, p <.001). Conclusions 13.6% did not meet recommended physical activity levels. Male participants showed higher BMI values than females, while sedentary behavior showed small academic field-related differences. Objective measures are needed to confirm long-term implications.
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