Korean J Fam Med.  2016 Sep;37(5):279-286. 10.4082/kjfm.2016.37.5.279.

Association between Physical Activity Levels and Physical Symptoms or Illness among University Students in Korea

• Ahn SH
• Um YJ
• Kim YJ
• Kim HJ
• Oh SW
• Lee CM
• Kwon H
• Joh HK

• KMID: 2352840
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.2016.37.5.279

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Low levels of physical activity can cause various physical symptoms or illness. However, few studies on this association have been conducted in young adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between physical activity levels and physical symptoms or illness in young adults.
METHODS
Subjects were university students who participated in a web-based self-administered questionnaire in a university in Seoul in 2013. We obtained information on physical activities and physical symptoms or illness in the past year. Independent variables were defined as symptoms or illness which were associated with decreased academic performance. Logistic regression was performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of each physical symptom or illness with adjustment for covariables.
RESULTS
A total of 2,201 participants were included in the study. The main physical symptoms or illness among participants were severe fatigue (64.2%), muscle or joint pain (46.3%), gastrointestinal problems (43.1%), headache or dizziness (38.6%), frequent colds (35.1%), and sleep problems (33.3%). Low physical activity levels were significantly associated with high ORs of physical symptoms or illness. Multivariable-adjusted ORs (95% CIs) in the lowest vs. highest tertile of physical activity were 1.45 (1.14-1.83) for severe fatigue, 1.35 (1.07-1.70) for frequent colds, and 1.29 (1.02-1.63) for headaches or dizziness. We also found that lower levels of physical activity were associated with more physical symptoms or bouts of illness.
CONCLUSION
Low physical activity levels were significantly associated with various physical symptoms or illness among university students. Also, individuals in the lower levels of physical activity were more likely to experience more physical symptoms or bouts of illness than those in the highest tertile of physical activity.

Keyword

Physical Activity; Young Adult; Students; Fatigue; Headache; Dizziness; Myalgia; Arthralgia; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Sleep; Common Cold

MeSH Terms

Arthralgia
Common Cold
Dizziness
Fatigue
Gastrointestinal Diseases
Headache
Humans
Korea*
Logistic Models
Motor Activity*
Myalgia
Odds Ratio
Seoul
Young Adult