Role of physical activity in university students' health

Lack of physical activity is a risk factor of a number of chronic diseases. Despite the health benefits of regular sports activity, no real changes have been going on in modifying behavior of the student population in Hungary. The main goal of the present study has been to investigate the role of physical activity in students' health. Data were collected among university students in Szeged, Hungary (N=691). Self-administered questionnaire included items on leisure-time physical activity, health status, psychological well-being, psychosomatic symptoms, health risk behaviors. Data showed that those who were engaged in more physical activity, also reported higher levels of psychological well-being, better perception of health, and lower levels of a number of psychosomatic symptoms. Findings suggest that physical activity plays an important role in students' health, therefore, there is a need for further cooperation between the institutions of education and public health in this field.