Vigorous physical activity among college students in the United States.
BACKGROUND
Vigorous physical activity (VPA) declines from adolescence into adulthood, and social disparities in VPA exist. Physical activity is understudied in the college setting.


METHODS
VPA during high school and college was examined among 10,437 students attending 119 four-year colleges using gender-stratified logistic regression analyses.


RESULTS
Fewer students engaged in VPA in college compared with high school (males 74% to 52%; females 68% to 44%). Athletics was associated with VPA, but 51% participated in high school and 15% in college. Among females, African Americans, Asians, and students of lower socioeconomic position (SEP) were less likely to engage in VPA in college, adjusting for high school VPA. Among males, Asians and older students were less likely to engage in VPA.


CONCLUSIONS
VPA declines from high school to college. Athletic participation is a determinant of VPA, but few participate in collegiate athletics. Social disparities in VPA emerge in college, an important setting for promoting VPA and addressing health disparities.
Nelson
Toben F
TF
University of Minnesota Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, 1300 S. Second St., Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA.
Gortmaker
Steven L
SL
Subramanian
S V
SV
Wechsler
Henry
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012923:Social Class; D013334:Students; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities