Association between Physical Activity Levels and Physical Symptoms or Illness among University Students in Korea.
BACKGROUND
Low levels of physical activity can cause various physical symptoms or illness. However, few studies on this association have been conducted in young adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between physical activity levels and physical symptoms or illness in young adults.


METHODS
Subjects were university students who participated in a web-based self-administered questionnaire in a university in Seoul in 2013. We obtained information on physical activities and physical symptoms or illness in the past year. Independent variables were defined as symptoms or illness which were associated with decreased academic performance. Logistic regression was performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of each physical symptom or illness with adjustment for covariables.


RESULTS
A total of 2,201 participants were included in the study. The main physical symptoms or illness among participants were severe fatigue (64.2%), muscle or joint pain (46.3%), gastrointestinal problems (43.1%), headache or dizziness (38.6%), frequent colds (35.1%), and sleep problems (33.3%). Low physical activity levels were significantly associated with high ORs of physical symptoms or illness. Multivariable-adjusted ORs (95% CIs) in the lowest vs. highest tertile of physical activity were 1.45 (1.14-1.83) for severe fatigue, 1.35 (1.07-1.70) for frequent colds, and 1.29 (1.02-1.63) for headaches or dizziness. We also found that lower levels of physical activity were associated with more physical symptoms or bouts of illness.


CONCLUSIONS
Low physical activity levels were significantly associated with various physical symptoms or illness among university students. Also, individuals in the lower levels of physical activity were more likely to experience more physical symptoms or bouts of illness than those in the highest tertile of physical activity.
Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Sang-Hyun
SH
Ahn
Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Yoo-Jin
YJ
Um
Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Young-Ju
YJ
Kim
Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Hyun-Joo
HJ
Kim
Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul, Korea.
Seung-Won
SW
Oh
Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul, Korea.
Cheol Min
CM
Lee
Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Hyuktae
H
Kwon
Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.; Department of Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.; Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Health Service Center, Seoul, Korea.
Hee-Kyung
HK
Joh
Arthralgia; Common Cold; Dizziness; Fatigue; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Headache; Myalgia; Physical Activity; Sleep; Students; Young Adult
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