Physical Activity Levels Among Students, Vietnam

Abstract

Physical activity (PA) is an important indicator of health, yet evidence regarding PA among Vietnamese university students remains limited. This study aimed to investigate PA levels and sedentary behavior among 120 first-year students at Saigon University, Vietnam. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed according to the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. The results showed that 55.83% of students met the recommended PA level, with a higher proportion among males (69.23%) than females (45.59%). Students accumulated an average of 1.82±2.15 days/week of vigorous-intensity PA and 4.25±2.55 days/week of moderate-intensity PA. All participants engaged in transportation-related PA. Mean sedentary time was 13.25±1.73 hours/day, with females reporting longer sedentary time than males. Significant gender differences were observed in PA indicators. Overall, 44.17% of students did not achieve the WHO-recommended PA level. These findings provide evidence for developing strategies to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior among university students.