Abstract

Background: Gender and cardiorespiratory fitness differences in prevalence estimates of meeting two guidelines for physical activity in university students were evaluated in this study.
Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out with 316 undergraduate university students. 55.4% of the sample was male. Participants completed a Physical Activity Assessment Questionnaire (FAAQ). To determine in prevalence of meeting the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) (1990) fitness and Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/ACSM (1995) health-related guidelines were employed based on FAAQ. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured in a 333m outdoor track with one-mile walking test and predicted maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) estimated by Kline’s formula. 
Results: Gender difference was found for percentage of students who met the current ACSM and CDC/ACSM physical activity guidelines (p<0.05). Our results showed that more male students (42.9%) have participation regularly vigorous activity than female students (27%). On the other hand, more female students (47.5%) reported to participation moderately activity in regularly than male students (38.3%). The highest VO2max values were found in the both female and male students who met the current ACSM physical activity guidelines (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that there is gender variation in university students’ current physical activity level within gender, and participating regularly physical activity have a positive effect on cardiorespiratory fitness level.

Key words:

physical activity, university students, cardirespiratory fitness, gender, guideline.