Nutrients 2010 2 1075 1085 doi 10 3390 nu2101075 OPEN ACCESS nutrients ISSN 2072 6643 www mdpi com journal nutrients Article Trends in Body Fat Body Mass Index and Physical Fitness Among Male and Female College Students Peter Pribis 1 Carol A Burtnack 1 Sonya O McKenzie 1 and Jerome Thayer 2 1 2 Department of Nutrition and Wellness Andrews University 8475 University Boulevard Marsh Hall 313 Berrien Springs MI 49104 USA E Mails burtnack andrews edu C A B mckenzis andrews edu S O M Center for Statistical Services Andrews University 4195 Administration Drive Berrien Springs MI 49104 USA E Mail thayerj andrews edu J T Author to whom correspondence should be addressed E Mail pribis andrews edu Tel 1 269 471 3386 Fax 1 269 471 3485 Received 10 September 2010 in revised form 14 October 2010 Accepted 22 October 2010 Published 25 October 2010 Abstract There have been many publications in recent years reporting on the quantity of physical activity among college students using indirect indicators such as steps walked per day or time spent on physical activities The purpose of this study was to describe the trends of physical fitness related to BMI and body fat among university students between 1996 and 2008 The results showed a significant decline in the average fitness levels measured as an estimation of VO2max for male and female students p 0 001 for both sexes The linear trend for BMI by years was not significant for both sexes p for males 0 772 p for females 0 253 On average in the last 13 years body fat was increasing 0 513 year for males and 0 654 year for females There is a significant indirect correlation between the student s VO2max levels and body fat r 0 489 p 0 001 for males and r 0 416 p 0 001 for females Approximately 23 9 of the variance in the VO2max levels in males and 17 3 in females can be explained by the variance in body fat The results support recent findings that physical fitness among college students is declining and body fatness is increasing Keywords students obesity BMI body fat physical fitness VO2max levels Nutrients 2010 2 1076 1 Introduction In the recent decade a decline in physical activity among college students has been observed 1 3 Regular physical activity is an important part of a healthy lifestyle It is associated with decreased risk of heart disease 4 obesity 5 and cancer 6 and related to psychological well being with lower levels of stress 7 9 and better cognitive functioning 10 Recent studies indicate that almost half of the U S college student population does not participate in moderate or vigorous physical activity 11 There is an alarming decline in physical activity among college students compared with those in high school 12 Based on self reported height and weight approximately 35 of US college students are overweight or obese 13 There have been several publications in recent years reporting on the quantity of physical activity performed by college students 3 11 14 The primary purpose of our study is to describe changes in the levels of physical fitness measured as estimation of maximum uptake of oxygen during a graded exercise VO2max in the last 13 years in relationship to measurements of obesity BMI body fat in the male and female population Our study was conducted at Andrews University which is a private Seventh day Adventist SDA campus SDAs represent a unique population to study because of their emphasis on healthy lifestyle 15 16 This religious group strongly recommends for its members to follow a healthy lifestyle defined as proper use of air sunlight temperance rest exercise proper diet water and trust 17 2 Materials and Methods This descriptive longitudinal study analyzed MicroFit tests data accumulated between years 1996 to 2008 Since MicroFit testing was part of mandatory curricula for all physical activity classes informed consent forms were not collected The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Andrews University IRB Protocol 07 119 2 1 Participants Overall 5101 students took the MicroFit test which was always done during the fall semester September December and spring semester January April of each year Every Andrews University student that participated in a physical activity class was required to evaluate his her physical fitness by taking the MicroFit test 2 2 MicroFit testing MicroFit is a Food and Drug Administration FDA approved medical assessment tool which measures several parameters of physical fitness body composition weight height and body fat blood pressure systolic and diastolic muscular strength flexibility resting heart rate aerobic fitness estimation of VO2max and calculates a total fitness score 18 In addition the MicroFit data contained the name age sex and the date the student took the test For statistical analysis the names of the students were removed For the testing we used the MicroFit FAS 2 System which consist of automated system for measuring resting blood pressure and heart rate interactive skinfold calliper flexometer for flexibility testing medical scale for measuring weight and biceps strength a stationary Nutrients 2010 2 1077 bike for cardiovascular fitness testing chest strap transmitter and heart rate receiving unit and the MicroFit Health Wizard software version 5 3 5 2 3 Body composition Body composition evaluation measured the major structural components of the body muscles and fat The height was measured in cm and the weight in kg Body Mass Index BMI was calculated using the weight and height of the student BMI W H where W is weight in kilograms and H2 is height in meters squared The skinfold test used to calculate the percent body fat was measured in millimeters and taken from three sites on the right side of the body chest abdomen and thigh for males and triceps suprailium and thigh for females For males the three skinfold measurements were added up MSF chest abdomen thigh and computed with the Jackson Pollock method 19 to measure body density Db 1 10938 0 0008267 MSF 0 0000016 MSF 2 0 0002574 age The following formula was then used to compute body fat Body Fat 4 95 Db 4 5 100 For females the three skinfold measurements were added up FSF triceps suprailium thigh and computed with the Jackson Pollock Ward method 20 to measure body density Db 1 10994921 0 0009929 FSF 0 0000023 FSF 2 0 0001392 age The following formula was then used to compute body fat Body Fat 5 01 Db 4 57 100 All calculations were done automatically by the computer 2 4 Blood pressure and resting heart rate