Contribution of common physical activities reported among African-American college students

INTRODUCTION: African-Americans are at increased risk for physical inactivity. Interventions targeting college students are promising since lifelong habits are being established at this time. The study purpose was to identify physical activities performed and how much activity they contribute among African-American college students. Interventions promoting these may be more effective. METHODS: Participants (N = 133) were healthy individuals recruited from a historically black college/university in Washington, DC over a period of 2 years. Frequency and duration of physical activities performed in the past year were assessed using the Paffenbarger Questionnaire. Activity intensities (metabolic equivalents [METS]) were based on compendium values (Ainsworth et al., 2000). RESULTS: Jogging, housekeeping, walking, and swimming were among the top 10 physical activities reported by both men and women. Top activities included jogging (40%), dancing (44%), housekeeping (37%), walking (34%), and home exercise (33%) for women and basketball (47%), running (47%), heavy home/yard work (33%), football (33%), jogging (30%), and swimming (30%) for men. Additionally, high-impact aerobics (34%) and treadmill walking (27%) were common among high-active participants (i.e., at or above median MET-minutes/week). Median MET-minutes/week for top activities were between 80 and 340. Participants who met recommendations (450 MET-minutes/week) did multiple activities (median = 7 activities). CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity interventions among African-American young adults should promote jogging, housekeeping, or walking as these require minimal skill and resources and were common across genders and among more active participants. Multiple activities should be promoted because single activities were not sufficient to meet recommendations.