A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF NUTRITIONAL HABITS, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND BODY COMPOSITION AMONG SPORTS AND NON-SPORTS MAJOR STUDENTS AT EKKE

Abstract

From the perspective of a healthy lifestyle, the most important factor is maintaining quality of life, which is significantly influenced by physical exercise appropriate to health status and fitness level, quantitative and qualitative nutrition, as well as rest, which is essential for optimal regeneration. The aim of the study is a comparative analysis of university students’ nutritional habits, physical activity, and body composition. A total of one hundred seven ty-nine participants took part in the study (n=179), from which four groups were formed. T he average results of the nutritional science assessments of the examined groups did not show significant differences, but the difference in weekly physical activity was significant: the weekly activity of sports students was 301.24 minutes, while that of non-sports students was 173.77 minutes (p=0.002). Regarding the relative muscle percentage (M%), sports major males had the highest average result (44%), followed by non-sports major males (38%), then sports major females (31%), and finally the non-sports major females (29%). A significant difference was found between the groups in relative muscle percentage (M%), with the average result of the male sports major group being higher than the average of all three other groups (p=0.000). In terms of relative body fat percentage (F%), a significant difference was also found between the groups, with the average result of the male sports major group being lower than the average of all three other groups (p=0.000). A significant relationship was found between body composition and physical activity, and the correlation proved to be inverse in the case of the two variables: in the examination of relative body fat percentage (F%) [(r)=-0.33; (p=0.000)] and relative muscle percentage (M%) [(r)=0.37; (p=0.000)], the magnitude of the correlation can be considered weak despite significant significance. The human biological differences between males and females are evident. There is no difference in nutrition, but there is a difference in the level of physical activity. Based on the results, 600 minutes, i.e., 1.5 hours per day of moderate-intensity physical exercise, is necessary to alter university students’ body composition.