Next Article in Journal
Effectiveness of Deep Water Running on Improving Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Physical Function and Quality of Life: A Systematic Review
Next Article in Special Issue
The Effect of a Sleep Intervention on Sleep Quality in Nursing Students: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Previous Article in Journal
Analysis of the Elderly’s Preferences for Choosing Medical Service Facilities from the Perspective of Accessibility: A Case Study of Tertiary General Hospitals in Hefei, China
Previous Article in Special Issue
Evaluation of Expressive Arts Therapy on the Resilience of University Students in COVID-19: A Network Analysis Approach
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
IJERPH
Volume 19
Issue 15
10.3390/ijerph19159427
ijerph-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Review

Effectiveness of Physical-Activity-Based Interventions Targeting Overweight and Obesity among University Students—A Systematic Review

by
Julia Pfisterer
†,
Constantin Rausch
†,
Doreen Wohlfarth
†,
Philip Bachert
,
Darko Jekauc
and
Kathrin Wunsch
*
Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9427; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159427
Submission received: 30 June 2022 / Revised: 21 July 2022 / Accepted: 26 July 2022 / Published: 1 August 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue University Students' Mental Health Problems: Causes and Solutions)
Browse Figure
Versions Notes

Abstract

Overweight and obesity, including their prevalence and consequences, reflect a leading public health problem. Studies have already shown that physical activity leads to a reduction in body weight in children and adults. However, the university setting has rarely been investigated. The aim of this review is, therefore, to examine and summarize the effectiveness of physical-activity-based interventions to reduce obesity and overweight in university students. Three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched for relevant studies published in English between January 2010 and February 2022. Quantitative studies conducting a physical-activity-based intervention with overweight or obese university students and reporting changes in BMI were included. Data were described in a narrative synthesis. Out of 16 included studies, 11 reported a significant reduction in BMI. However, all studies except one were able to demonstrate some BMI improvements, whereas all studies reported significant changes in at least one health-related indicator. Aerobic exercises were able to demonstrate the greatest reductions in BMI. This review is the first systematic presentation on the effectiveness of physical-activity-based interventions in overweight and obese university students. Future work should reconsider BMI as the primary outcome if appropriate within the respective study design (i.e., to measure long-term effects). More interventions are needed to improve strategies.
Keywords: physical-activity-based interventions; overweight; obesity; BMI; change; university students; tertiary education; review physical-activity-based interventions; overweight; obesity; BMI; change; university students; tertiary education; review

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Pfisterer, J.; Rausch, C.; Wohlfarth, D.; Bachert, P.; Jekauc, D.; Wunsch, K. Effectiveness of Physical-Activity-Based Interventions Targeting Overweight and Obesity among University Students—A Systematic Review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 9427. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159427

AMA Style

Pfisterer J, Rausch C, Wohlfarth D, Bachert P, Jekauc D, Wunsch K. Effectiveness of Physical-Activity-Based Interventions Targeting Overweight and Obesity among University Students—A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(15):9427. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159427

Chicago/Turabian Style

Pfisterer, Julia, Constantin Rausch, Doreen Wohlfarth, Philip Bachert, Darko Jekauc, and Kathrin Wunsch. 2022. "Effectiveness of Physical-Activity-Based Interventions Targeting Overweight and Obesity among University Students—A Systematic Review" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 15: 9427. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159427

APA Style

Pfisterer, J., Rausch, C., Wohlfarth, D., Bachert, P., Jekauc, D., & Wunsch, K. (2022). Effectiveness of Physical-Activity-Based Interventions Targeting Overweight and Obesity among University Students—A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(15), 9427. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159427

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop