The Impact of Physical Education on the Lifestyle of Students in University Colleges from Israel

Physical education is a compulsory discipline in the academic curricula of only two Universities in Israel. The aim of this article was to examine students of one of such universities' attitudes, regarding physical activity during their academic training and the role that physical education, as a curricular discipline, has in developing behaviour patterns and a healthy lifestyle. The research was conducted during the first semester of the academic year 2012-2013 in a group of 270 participants, divided into two groups - control and experimental group. Students' attitudes towards physical activity were assessed using a questionnaire. Physical condition of students was measured using Ruffier, Sit-Up and Sit and Reach tests. The collected data were analysed using SPSS, while the differences between means were compared using T-tests. At the end of the semester, fitness parameters to experimental group have increased and their life style was positively changed.