Indicators of physical activity and fitness of male students at Russian universities

Purpose: A significant volume of data on the level of physical activity and health of male students presents at the literature. Scientists use the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) to collect data. Scientists point to the need to use objective practical tests that complement the IPAQ data. The purpose of the research is to search for objective data on the level of physical activity of undergraduate male students receiving education in Russian Federation. Material: Participants – male students (n=205, age-19-20 years). The period of research is March-April 2019. Students were divided into groups: G-1 – students (n=127) who did not have proof of their physical activity in sports and fitness, G-2 – students (n=78) who had provided confirmation. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) in its extended version assessing four domains of activity, which was supplemented with original questions regarding perceived physical fitness (high, moderate, low) and favorite physical activity in sports and fitness was used in research. Students' physical fitness profile testing is performed using Functional fitness assessment tests. The collected data were analysed using SPSS20. Physical fitness test results were compared by using Mann-Whitney U–test. Results: The IPAQ data indicate a significant (P<0.001) advantage of students (G-2) in total physical activity. Students (G-1) have a significant (P<0.01) advantage in the volume of physical activity at work. The volume of physical activity in sports and fitness is significantly higher (P<0.001) for students (G-2). Functional fitness tests showed a insufficient level of physical fitness of students (G-1 and G-2). The results indicate a significant (P<0.01) advantage of students (G-2) in physical profile. Conclusions: Russian male students have more total physical activity than male students from African countries, Turkey, Iran, and Ukraine, but have a significantly low total physical activity level than students from some European countries. The total physical activity volume of Russian university male students is slightly less than the recommended by experts (6000 minutes per week or more). The volume of validated physical activity in sports and fitness of Russian students is about 39 minutes per day. The level of physical fitness of Russian male students does not fully comply with the Functional fitness assessment tests targets. A large proportion of sports and fitness physical activity has a significant impact on the results of functional fitness tests. Data on favorite types of physical activity of Russian male students show a preference for young men to physically dominate their peers. Health preservation and health care are not the main aim of students.


Introduction
Experts in the field of health and medicine pay attention to a significant decrease in the level of daily physical activity (PA) of the population [1]. Scientific data on the assessment of the PA level of students indicate a lack of regular PA of modern young people [2]. The lack of regular PA is the main threat to the development of obesity in modern youth and students [3]. It was found that a significant percentage of university students do not follow the recommendations for performing a certain volume of PA during the day (60 minutes of moderate PA) [4], and the week (150 minutes of vigorous PA) [5]. It is known that the transition from school to university is accompanied by a decrease in motor activity, an increase in a sedentary lifestyle and the development of the risk of obesity in young people [6]. It was revealed that first-year students experience a sharp decrease in participation in PA, even taking into account mandatory training programs of physical education (PE) [7]. The article presents scientific data on a significant decrease in physical health indicators of students by the end of their studies at universities [8].

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Senior students have sufficient knowledge of the benefits of regular PA, but the level of their weekly PA remains insufficient [9]. Experts recommend that modern students significantly increase their level of PA and exercise to improve their physical [10] and emotional status [11].
A frequently used tool for collecting data and evaluating the level of PA of various population groups is the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) [12]. Experts note that IPAQ, although it needs some modification to improve the reliability of data evaluation, remains the main tool for collecting information about the level of PA of the evaluated individuals [13].
The IPAQ data from male students in some European countries (Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia) indicate that students on average have a little more than 6,000 minutes of PA per week. In this volume, activity in sports and fitness is about 1,835 minutes per week [14]. Experts consider the volume of PA more than 6000 minutes per week sufficient for young students [15]. The data on the volume of PA of students in Ukraine show that young men have about 4800 minutes of PA per week, of which activity in sports and fitness is about 1665 minutes [16]. Students from Turkey have several more than 3,000 minutes of PA per week [17]. The data from Iranian scientists show that the level of PA in 46% of young men is low (less than 600 minutes per week) [18]. The IPAQ results from students in some African countries indicate a fairly low level of weekly PA among young people. Students from Libya on average have less than 300 minutes of PA per week [19]. Students from Ghana have less than 100 minutes of PA per week [6].
The data from Russian scientists indicate a lack of weekly PA of modern students -less than 3000 minutes of physical activity per week. PA in sports and fitness is only about 700 minutes per week [20]. However, these data characterize the volume of PA not only of students, but also of those who completed their studies at universities. A comparative analysis of IPAQ results of students from Russia (Surgut) and Kazakhstan (Karaganda) indicates a fairly low volume of total PA of Russian students -1748 minutes per week (the volume of PA in sports and fitness 524 minutes per week). However, these data include IPAQ results for male and female students [21]. There is a lack of objective data on the level of weekly PA of young male students from Russia.
A review of scientific data on the volume of РА of students revealed a lack of objective and accurate data on the weekly rate of РА of student youth [22]. Most studies offer an overview of the subjective data obtained from student questionnaires. Such data cannot be considered objective completely. It is indispensable to continue monitoring the PA of young people using modern research techniques [23]. Scientists point out that there is a need for a qualitative assessment of the subjective data obtained from the interviewed students using various practical tests (objective assessment) [24]. However, experts do not offer uniform, informative and accurate practical tests for the procedure of comparing subjective data of students with objective indicators of РА [25].
The purpose of the research. The search for objective data on the level of weekly PA relative to healthy male students (19-20 years old) from Russian universities. A comparative analysis of the results with the data IPAQ of students from other countries was performed in addition.

Materials and Methods.
Participants Young (19-20 years) Russian male students (n=205) -students of humanities or technical specialties. All students were relatively healthy at the time of the research. All students gave informed consent to participate in the research and publish the results. All students practiced regularly PE classes at university (180 minutes per week). The students practiced PE classes taking advantage of the choice of their preferred sports activity (sports specialization) or health fitness activity. All procedures of research were approved by the local ethics committee of the Institute of physical culture, sports and tourism (Siberian Federal University).

The research design
The research was conducted in several major universities of the Russian Federation. The research period was about two months (March-April) in 2019. All participants were asked to provide proof of their physical activity in sports and fitness (club cards of fitness centers, documents from sports schools, etc.). Most (n=127) students were unable to provide confirmation. These students formed a group (G-1). Students (n=78) who provided confirmation entered the group (G-2).
The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) in its extended version assessing four domains of activity, which was supplemented with original questions regarding perceived physical fitness (high, moderate, low) and favorite PA in sports and fitness was used in research. All students were tested the level of physical fitness (Functional fitness assessment tests) [26]. The functional fitness assessment tests MUST be performed consecutively in the following order with the prescribed rest periods between tests. If one or more of the tests cannot be performed (e.g. pushups cannot be performed because of a shoulder injury, etc.) then the score must be entered as ZERO. If the aerobic fitness test is not performed, enter a time of 0 minutes and 0 seconds in one of the options (run, walk, row).

Statistical Analysis
The collected data were analysed using SPSS20. Chisquare test was employed to estimate the association between the variables. Physical fitness test results were compared by using Mann-Whitney U-test.

Results
The IPAQ results show a significant (P<0.001) advantage of male students (G-2) in total PA (Total PA).
A significant (P<0.01) superiority of students (G-1) was found in the volume of PA in the workplace (PA at work). Data on student mobility indicate a significantly (P<0.01) higher volume mobility of student (G-2). Data on PA at home did not different significantly in G-1 and G-2 students. The volume of PA in sports and fitness (Sports and fitness PA) was significantly (P<0.001) higher among students (G-2). The overall IPAQ results of the students (G-1 and G-2) are presented in Table 1.
The IPAQ results show that most male students rate their perceived physical fitness is moderate fitness level. The students (G-1) showed 54% of moderate fitness level, students (G-2) -57%. The overall data regarding selfperceived physical fitness of students are presented in Fig. 1.
The IPAQ results revealed that the favorite type of PA in sports and fitness for students of both groups is an athletic gym. Then there are sport games (football, basketball, tennis), martial arts, skiing, health walking, swimming. The overall data on the favorite physical activity of students G-1 and G-2 are presented in Fig. 2.
The results of Functional fitness assessment tests showed a low level of physical fitness of students. The students in both groups failed to meet the functional fitness tests targets. A significant (P<0.01) advantage in the results of fitness tests (Push-up Test; Squat Test; Plank Test) was revealed for students (G-2) who practice additional sports and fitness classes on a weekly basis. A Table 1. Differences in domains of PA of male students (G-1 and G-2). Note (reliability of differences): * -Р<0.001 -(significance level); ** -Р<0.01 -(significance level).  Table 2.

Domain of PA G-1 (n=127) minutes per week G-2 (n=78) minutes per week
The results of Functional fitness assessment tests of students (G-1 and G-2) as a percentage of the targets are presented in Fig. 3.

Discussion
The various data on the sufficient level of weekly PA of students presented in scientific literature. Slovakian students have more than 6000 minutes per week [15]. Polish students have more than 9000 minutes per week [9]. Experts consider both results to be an acceptable level of weekly PA of students. Bosnian experts provided data on the sufficient level of PA of male students to maintain health (6000 minutes per week or more) [15]. Romanian scientists confirm the data presented by Bosnian experts [1,27]. However, PA assessment studies are often conducted among students of the faculties of physical education and sports and do not affect students of humanities and technical specialties [28]. The students of the faculties of physical education and sports have an additional amount of PA at least 8-10 hours per week [23]. The IPAQ data from Polish students of sports and physical education departments shows 9500 minutes of PA per week [9]. There is a need for more precise determination of the optimal level of weekly PA of students studying in the humanities and technical faculties.
Our research shows the volume of weekly PA of students from 4932 minutes per week (G-1) to 5074 minutes per week (G-2). These results are significantly higher than IPAQ data for students from African countries [6; 19], students from Iran [18], and students from Turkey [17]. The students (G-1 and G-2) outperform in total PA of students from Ukraine [16], but significantly inferior to Ukrainian students in the volume of PA in sports and fitness. The students are significantly inferior in the total PA to students in some European countries [14,29]. Comparison of research results with results from other Russian scientists some differences revealed. Loginov et al., indicate a total PA volume of students less than 1800 minutes per week (PA in sports and fitness less than 600 minutes per week) [21]. Our data indicate a total PA volume of more than 4900 minutes per week (PA in sports and fitness more than 800 minutes per week).
Lipošek et al., presented data on the level PA of students at the university of Maribor. The data shows that almost 80% of students do not follow the recommendations of experts on the level of PA per week. Only about 20.5% of students have additional PA in sports clubs (about 150 minutes of moderate PA per week) [2]. Our data indicate that about 40.3% of students have additional PA in the form of regular sports and fitness sessions (at least 150 minutes per week). The average validated PA of students in sports and fitness is 274 minutes per week (about 39 minutes per day). It should be recognized that this data is below the level PA recommended by experts for maintaining physical health (60 minutes per day) [5].
Kokun et al., provided data on Ukraine male students' self-estimation of their health. Most Ukrainian male students rate their PA level and health as good (about 59%) [30]. Pathare et al., reports that 48% of medical students from the United States indicate a high level of physical activity in IPAQ [31]. However experts point to the need for careful assessment of the high level of PA in IPAQ data of students and mandatory comparison of IPAQ data with the results of practical tests of PA [32]. In our data indicate that most male students (more than 50%) rate their PA level with average grades. The results of functional tests indicate a lack of physical fitness of Russian male students.
Essaw et al., presented the results of an assessment Note (reliability of differences): * -Р<0.01 -(significance level); ** -Р<0.05 -(significance level). of the level of regular PA in sports and fitness of male students from Ghana. Most students on average spend less than 100 minutes PA per week [6]. The level of weekly PA of students is significantly higher, from 823 minutes (G-1) to 970 minutes (G-2) in our research. Differences in favorite PA of students were revealed. Students from Ghana prefer swimming and running. These types of PA have a wellness orientation and benefit for the physical condition of students youth. Students (G-1 and G-2) prefer athletic gym, sports games and martial arts. These sports and fitness PA have a competitive orientation and contribute to a significant increase in the special physical fitness of students. The choice of favorite types of PA emphasizes the orientation of students (G-1 and G-2) to physical dominance over other people.
Kim & Cardinal, point out that modern students are much better at meeting the need for РА by using a variable choice of different types of РА and sports [7]. All students had regular practice of physical education at the university (at least 3 hours a week) in selected sports and health fitness in our research. However, the level of physical fitness of students does not meet the protocols recommended by experts. Therefore, the availability of variable programs of PA of students is not the main condition for meeting the needs of young males in regular PA and fitness. Search for other significant motivations to increase the weekly PA of modern students it is necessary.

Conclusion
1. It was found that the total PA volume of Russian male students is slightly less than the recommended by experts (6000 minutes per week or more). Russian male students have more total PA than male students from African countries, Turkey, Iran, and Ukraine. Students in some European countries (Poland, Romania, Slovakia) have significantly more total PA (from 6000 to 9500 minutes per week). The volume of validated PA in sports and fitness of Russian students is about 39 minutes per day. Increase the total PA of Russian male students to the recommended indications by specialists (60 minutes per day or more) it is necessary.
2. It was revealed that the level of physical fitness of Russian male students does not fully comply with the Functional fitness assessment tests targets. The students were able to perform 40% (Push-up Test) to 80% (One Mile Run Test) of the Functional fitness assessment tests targets. A significant advantage of students (G-2) in the results of the Functional fitness assessment tests was found. A large proportion of sports and fitness PA has a significant impact on the results of functional fitness tests.
3. Data on favorite types of PA of Russian male students show a preference for young men to physically dominate their peers. Preservation and health care are not the main aim of students. Insufficient volume of vigorous PA does not allow male students to achieve physical perfection. Comprehensive measures to increase the total level PA and sports and fitness PA of male students from Russian universities are needed.