Relationship between Physical Activity and Fitness Levels of Male Students

Abstract

Fitness is a measure of physical ability to perform various daily physical activities without fatigue. Physical activity is a fundamental component influencing an individual level of fitness, particularly among medical students who face high academic workloads that may lead to sedentary lifestyles. Physical activity is a complex behavioural process that involves the development and internalization of skills, values, and self-perceptions. This study aimed to examine the relationship between physical activity levels and physical fitness among male pre-clinical students of the Faculty of Medicine, Pasundan University. A cross-sectional design was used in this study. The purposive sampling was administered for the sample selection. The sample involved 50 male respondents. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Long Form (IPAQ-LF) assessed physical activity levels, while the Cooper 12-Minute Run Test measured physical fitness (VO2max). Data were analyzed by using the Spearman correlation test. The results showed that most participants had high (54%) and moderate (42%) physical activity levels, whereas 44% were categorized as having low fitness levels. A significant positive correlation was found between physical activity and fitness levels (r = 0.413; p = 0.003). This finding suggests that higher physical activity correlates with better physical fitness among medical students.