Physical activity and physical fitness level of Mahidol University Employee, s Salaya Campus

Abstract

Introduction: Physical fitness and physical activity are indicators of health. Healthy people without disease will make highly beneficial of work in organization. The aim of this study was to investigate the physical fitness and activities level of personnel in Mahidol University. There were 523 staffs, 193 males and 330 females participated in this study.

Method: Physical fitness related variable and method of testing included; 1) weight 2) height 3) resting heart rate 4) blood pressure 5) % fat 6) grip-leg strength 7) flexibility and 8) cardiovascular endurance. Before testing, subjects completed an activity questionnaire.

Result: The results illustrated that both gender showed a tendency of increasing body mass index (BMI) except in group 20 - 29 years in which BMI was normal range. Muscle strength, flexibility and cardiovascular endurance values were moderate to good for all age groups. In contrast, hand grip strength of all the staff was lower than the standard level. The importance of exercise was concerned by staff at 67.3% that activities were mostly jogging and running. Most of staffs exercised 1 - 2 times per week.

Discussion and Conclusion: An increase in BMI was observed in both male and female staffs that were above age 30 years. This may indicate that staff was lack of exercise and decrease physical activity in daily. Grip strength was low strength because of using hand muscles decrease. Moreover, the main reason in lack of exercise was no time.

Key words: Physical activities, Physical fitness, Body mass index.