UC San Diego

Transportation, science, and technology have led to increased sedentary/inactive lifestyles and corresponding, increasing risks for chronic diseases. This culture of sitting is also prevalent in universities. I surveyed students in two courses and analyzed responses to quantitative and qualitative questions. I show 1) Most students sit in university 15-25 hours/week and 52% fall below the U.S. Health Standard’s exercise threshold. 2) Demographics of gender (p<0.001), years in university (p=0.047), and intercollegiate athlete status (p<0.001) explained 20.5% of the variance in exercise rates (Multiple Linear Regression). Exercise trends significantly drop during first-year students’ transition from high school to university (Friedman’sxi test p<0.001). 3) After learning the biology behind exercise, students in a comparison course increased exercise rates compared to the students from the control course which significantly decreased their exercise rates (Welch’s t-test p<0.001). 57% of students in the comparison course now meet the U.S. Health Standard’s exercise threshold and the content of the comparison course had a significant effect on the number of students that increased their exercise trends (qualitative results, McNemar’s Chi-Square test p<0.001). Qualitatively, students mentioned a changed health perspective, understanding of the benefits of exercise, exercise’s importance in aging, and the impact of watching the professors lead by example as passionate exercise advocators. Students expressed interest in taking stand breaks throughout class and integrating application of biology to personal health in all biology courses. These changes have potential to teach students how to connect to a healthy routine they can sustain for a lifetime.