A Comparative Study of Health-Related Physical Fitness of Rural And Urban College Students

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to compare the health-related physical fitness between rural and urban college students. 200 students (100 rural and 100 urban) were drawn from various colleges. Cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition were measured with standardized tests of major components of health-related physical fitness. The results showed that there were considerable differences among rural and urban students in fitness components. The cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength were comparatively better in the rural students because of their active lifestyle and increased participation in physical activities, while the flexibility was comparatively better among the urban students. Urban students also had higher BMI indicating higher sedentary behaviour and lower participation in physical activity. The study emphasizes the necessity of frequent physical exercise and structured physical fitness program to enhance general health and physical efficiency of college students.