University students not taking time to exercise even when given incentive: UBC study

First-year university students experience a sharp decline in their mental and physical health, even when they are given pedometers to encourage exercise. This is the conclusion of a recent study performed at the University of British Columbia, which gave pedometers to half a group of first-year students to track their steps and aim for a daily goal of 10,000 steps. The study found that the students given pedometers did not significantly increase their physical activity compared to those who received no pedometer. Further, it found an overall decline in all students' physical activity, health-related quality of life, and psychological well-being. “It’s a common belief that university students of this age are in the prime of their life,” says UBC Okanagan Research Coordinator Paul Sharp. “But in reality, many young adults are going through a transitional period whereby they are experiencing greater independence, exploring new worldviews in love and life, and developing new health behaviours.” UBC