Physical Activity and Psychological Resilience in Older Adults: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Older adults face numerous unfavorable functional changes caused by aging, but many exhibit resilience, which helps them cope with challenges. Physical activity is positively associated with resilience. Therefore, this systematic literature review aimed to uncover the relationships between physical activity and resilience in older adults. We have analyzed three freely and openly available databases: (a) PubMed/Medline, (b) ScienceDirect, and (c) Google Scholar, which yielded 20 eligible articles based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Most studies (14) were cross-sectional, three were longitudinal, and three others used mindfulness-based or endurance-enhancing physical activity interventions. Their results revealed increased resilience even after short-duration and low-frequency interventions. Cross-sectional research results also support the positive relationship between physical activity and resilience in older adults, suggesting that the relationship might depend on exercise volume. Still, further research is needed to design interventions, understand the mechanism(s) involved in altering resilience, and maximize physical activity's benefits in aging people.

Associations between fitness levels and self-perceived health-related quality of life in community - dwelling for a group of older females.

BACKGROUND: For older adults perceived quality of life has been linked to the ability to accomplish everyday tasks, a functional capacity which is thought to be based upon physical fitness. Although there is a relationship between physical activity and quality of life in older adults, the fitness of older adults and its relationship to quality of life needs more investigation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the associations between self-reported health-related quality of life and physical fitness in community-dwelling older females. METHODS: A cross-sectional study between four different age groups in retirement villages from two different places of the southern and western region of Hungary, among 173 women between the ages of 58 and 94 years old. We measured physical fitness using the Fullerton Test protocol and self-perceived health quality of life using the Short-Form Health Survey. RESULTS: Group means were different in six-minute walk distance, handgrip strength, and arm curls. The youngest group of females had higher scores of fitness in these categories as compared to the oldest grouping of women. Quality of Life were also difference across age groupings although not linear across the four age categories. Moderate level positive relationship was evident between perceived physical function and certain categories of physical fitness. CONCLUSIONS: Sociability and self-motivation has a leading role in quality of life in elder population. It is worth putting a lot more emphasis into continuous cultural, social and most importantly into physical activity programs for elderly.

Relationship between obesity and health-related quality of life in children aged 7-8 years.

BACKGROUND: The dramatic increase in the prevalence of obesity in developed and developing countries has become a major health care concern. Accordingly, there is growing recognition of the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and obesity in the pediatric population. This study aimed to explore the relationship between HRQOL and different indicators of obesity in children aged 7-8 years. METHOD: In total, 182 children participated in this study (mean age 7.71 (0.29) years, 48.91% girls). To assess obesity, an InBody 230 analyzer was used to calculate body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BFP). The proxy version of the KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire was used to assess HRQOL. RESULTS: Among boys, 17.2% were overweight and 4.3% were obese according to BMI, while in terms of body fat percentage (BFP), the corresponding percentages were 12.9 and 9.7%, respectively. Among girls, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 11.2 and 9.0% by BMI and 10.1 and 7.9% in terms of BFP, respectively. The analysis of BFP showed a significantly higher score in normal weight boys than in obese boys in the Social Support & Peers domains (KW H-test = 10.472, p = 0.03), while in girls, there were no significant differences between weight categories and any HRQOL dimensions. CONCLUSION: Obesity at 7-8 years of age could negatively affect some HRQOL domains; in particular, obese boys may have low social support and peer functioning.

[The probability of obstructive sleep apnea disorders emergence by odds ratio of main risk factors]. / Az alvási apnoe szindróma vezeto rizikótényezoinek esélyhányadosai.

INTRODUCTION: The quality of sleep plays a serious role in the individual's daytime performace and state of health, there by it has a strong influence on the society. AIM: The present study measures the probability developing and severity of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, - which belongs to group of disorders of the respiratory - through odds ratio of leading risk factors. METHOD: 127 persons were examined in the test. The sleep structure test data were processed by polysomnographic screening device. RESULTS: The nutritional level of body in mass index (BMI), and the neck circumferences data were recorded in cm. On the basis of the examination the gender as a risk factor it can be said that the odds ratio for men compared to women, more than three times higher of emergence of disease. CONCLUSIONS: Men's chance of the emergence of serious disease is more than four times higher than women's chance. In the men's test group the most significant predictor of obstructive sleep apnea amongst the risk factors is the circumference according to odds ratio. In women's group the leader odds ratio is BMI. More than 50% of test goup don't report about daytime sleepiness, and this fact draws our attention to the role of risk factors' odds ratio in selection. Orv Hetil. 2017; 158(21): 823-828.

A Fullerton Functional Fitness Test-based exercise intervention for older adults yields quick physical and psychological benefits.

OBJECTIVES: Functional fitness is essential for healthy living in older adults. Specially targeted fitness programs might be the most beneficial. This intervention study aimed to assess the efficacy of a specific 16-week exercise program in improving functions as measured by the Fullerton Functional Fitness Test (FFFT), also known as the Senior Test, in older adults. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-eight participants (66 % women, Mage = 80.15, SD = 7.21) were randomized into an exercise group (n = 24) and a waiting list control group (n = 14). The exercise group trained three times a week for 1 h. METHODS: Objective tests (FFFT and handgrip power) and subjective psychological measures (life satisfaction, resilience, happiness, perceived stress, and well-being) were obtained at baseline, after eight weeks, and after 16 weeks. The data were analyzed using mixed-effect regression models. RESULTS: The results yielded statistically significant group-by-time interactions in all models, indicating improvements in physical and psychological measures over time in the treatment group compared to the control group. Significant differences between the groups in the estimated marginal means (with adjusted 95 % confidence intervals) emerged after 16 weeks in happiness (-3.5 [-6.5, -0.4]), resilience (-5.5 [-9.9, -1.2]), perceived stress (2.2 [0.2, 4.2]), well-being (-5.8 [-7.9, -3.6]), upper limb strength (-5.7 [-9.0, -2.4]), upper body flexibility (-8.7 [-16.4, -1.0]), and agility and balance (4.6 [1.2, 8.1]). Except for happiness and resilience, these differences surfaced already after eight weeks. CONCLUSION: The here-employed 16-week exercise program, targeting the test elements of the FFFT, efficiently induced physical and mental improvements in older adults.

Influence of pulsing electromagnetic field therapy on resting blood pressure in aging adults.

This double-blind study tested the effects of pulsating electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy sessions on the changes in peripheral cardiovascular function in a group of aging adults after 12 weeks of treatment. Each therapy session involved 15 min of exposure to low-frequency PEMF with asymmetrical waveforms emitted by the Impulser™ Pro mattress. The treatment was provided 5 days per week for a total of 60 sessions. Resting blood pressure and arterial stiffness index were determined for peripheral cardiovascular function. Fifty-four older men and women (mean age 59.8 ± 3.5 yrs) completed the entire protocol involving either the PEMF or a sham treatment. The results include statistically significant reductions in systolic and pulse blood pressure, while no significant difference in diastolic pressure or the index of arterial stiffness was observed. These findings suggest that the PEMF treatment might be linked to improvements in peripheral resistance or circulation.

A large sample cross-sectional study on mental health challenges among adolescents and young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic at-risk group for loneliness and hopelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges for societies. Emerging data have indicated that the younger population are the most vulnerable group to the development of mental health problems during this pandemic. The present study aimed to examine the effects of the changes in health behaviors on mental health problems to identify an at-risk group among adolescents and young adults. METHODS: In the present cross-sectional study, secondary school students (N = 2556) ages 15-21 years participated in Hungary. A self-report questionnaire was developed to measure the changes in health behaviors. Mental health problems were measured by the Beck Hopelessness Scale and the 20-item UCLA Loneliness Scale. RESULTS: A significant proportion of the students showed moderate/severe hopelessness or high loneliness which were more pronounced among adolescent females. An at-risk group was identified among adolescents and young adults. Students who have a lower number of friends, spend less time in front of a screen, and feel lonely often/very often are more likely to have moderate/severe hopelessness with high loneliness. LIMITATIONS: All data were collected online, and students completed the questionnaires voluntarily. Cross-sectional, non-preregistered study. CONCLUSIONS: Loneliness and hopelessness were prevalent in the young population during the COVID-19 pandemic. The at-risk group of adolescents characterized by moderate/severe hopelessness with high loneliness highlights the need for follow-up mental health to avoid future poor mental and physical health. It is also recommended to develop effective interventions targeted to gender and age, with the promotion of resiliencies and buffers against vulnerabilities of negative life events.

Psychological Responses to Progressive Exercise Until Voluntary Exhaustion: A Study of Adolescent Male Basketball Players.

The affective experience during and after exercise helps determine motivation, commitment, and adherence to sports. Choice reaction time (RT) is critical in decision-making and sports performance. In this within-subjects laboratory experiment, we scrutinized core affect and choice RT in 18 male adolescent basketball players during exercise sessions performed to voluntary exhaustion and during a control condition. The adolescents performed choice RT tasks in one of two exercise conditions and in the control session. Participants' feeling states differed between exercise and control sessions and decreased slightly even after moderate exercise intensity. Core affect also declined as the workload increased, but it remained pleasant-activated in all conditions. The RT errors increased at the peak exercise intensity. These results suggest that while high-intensity training might negatively affect young athletes' feeling states and impair their decision-making, their core affect remained positive, with large inter-individual variability. We discuss the practical implications of these results in adolescents' sports.

Assessing physical activity and subjective health status among Hungarian secondary school students during the distance learning period caused by the COVID-19 pandemic / A fizikai aktivitás és a szubjektív egészségi állapot értékelése magyar középiskolások körében a COVID-19-pandémia okán elrendelt távoktatási idoszakban

Introduction: High school education took place in the form of distance learning during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic worldwide, including Hungary. Decreased physical activity and an increase in inactive behaviours may lead to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Objective: Our study focused on changes in physical activity (aerobic exercise, muscle strengthening, team sports) and subjective perceptions of health status in adolescents and young adults during the pandemic. Method: High school students in 66 public schools in 37 cities in Hungary (n = 2508) were surveyed. Questionnaire items on physical activity and subjective perceptions of health were adapted from the WHO Health Behaviour of School-aged Children Survey and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behavior Survey. 2 x 2 x 4 factorial ANCOVA was used to test the effect of gender and/or age and region on changes in subjective perceptions of physical activity and health before and during distance education. Results: The majority of the high school students reported a decrease in physical activity frequency during the distance learning period, with an average of 2-3 fewer days of physical activity per week regardless of region. Nearly a quarter of them rated their health as worse during distance learning than before. A higher proportion of those who reported a subjective decline in health also reported a decline in physical activity. Conclusion: A decline in physical activity during the period of distance learning is associated with a decline in subjective perceptions of health, especially among rural adolescent girls.

Anthropometric and Physiological Profiles of Hungarian Youth Male Soccer Players of Varying Ages and Playing Positions: A Multidimensional Assessment with a Critical Approach.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to create preliminary anthropometric and physiological profiles of Hungarian male soccer players belonging to different age categories (14, 15, 16, and 17-18-years) and assigned to different playing positions (forward, defender, midfielder, goalkeeper). METHODS: Anthropometric and physiological profiles were created for four age groups: 14- (n = 20), 15- (n = 16), 16- (n = 22) and 17-18-year-olds (n = 23) representing the Hungarian soccer academy. Additionally, the variables were analyzed across the four player positions mentioned above. RESULTS: The mean values of body mass, fat mass and BMI were within normal limits, although in some cases the anthropometric and body composition values were too high, particularly among the 17-18-year-olds. The mean values of HRrest were lowest among the 15-year-olds. The highest mean and maximal values of rVO2max and rVO2/AT [57.6 ± 8.12 (43.8-68.3) and 51.2 ± 7.24 (38.9-60.8) mL/kg/min, respectively] were noted in 14-year-olds. Goalkeepers performed significantly better than the remaining soccer players in terms of the most anthropometric and physiological characteristics, except for the Yo-Yo test (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The values of anthropometric parameters increased with age. As expected, the oldest group achieved the best results in the performance tests. Goalkeepers outperformed the players representing other playing positions in the tests when assessing lower limb strength, sprint performance (5- and 10-m distance), and agility tests. From a practical point of view, the presented anthropometric and physiological profiles of players representing different age groups and playing positions can be useful for soccer coaches, strength and conditioning specialists, and athletic trainers of other soccer clubs in terms of the individualization and optimalization of soccer training.

Differences in the Anthropometric and Physiological Profiles of Hungarian Male Rowers of Various Age Categories, Rankings and Career Lengths: Selection Problems.

Background: Little is known about the anthropometric and physiological profiles of lower-ranking athletes who aspire to rise to the pinnacle of their profession. Aim: The aim of this study was to create anthropometric and physiological profiles of Hungarian male rowers of different age categories (15-16, 17-18, and over 18 years), sports rankings and career lengths. Materials and Methods: Anthropometric and physiological profiles were created for 55 juniors, 52 older juniors and 23 seniors representing seven of the largest Hungarian rowing clubs. One-way independent analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare arithmetic means. Results: Rowers in older age categories were significantly taller (185.0 ± 5.0 cm vs. 183.0 ± 7.3 cm vs. 178.7 ± 7.2 cm) and heavier (81.1 ± 8.8 kg vs. 73.7 ± 8.4 kg vs. 66.8 ± 12.3 kg) than their younger peers, with significantly higher BMI values and larger body dimensions. Compared to younger athletes, rowers in older age categories also covered 2,000 m significantly faster (6.6 ± 0.3 min vs. 6.9 ± 0.4 min vs. 7.5 ± 0.5 min) while developing significantly more power (372.2 ± 53.0 W vs. 326.8 ± 54.5 W vs. 250.6 ± 44.6 W). Similarly, seniors and older juniors had higher values of maximal oxygen uptake and force max (by 6.2 and 7.0 ml/kg/min, and by 263.4 and 169.8 N). Within the older juniors, internationally ranked rowers had significantly greater body height (+ 5.9 cm), body mass (+ 6.1 kg), sitting height (+ 2.7 cm), arm span (+ 7.9 cm), limb length (+ 3.73 cm) and body surface area (+ 0.21 m2). They also rowed 2,000 m significantly faster (-0.43 min, p < 0.001) and had significantly higher values of power (+ 58.3 W), relative power (+ 0.41 W/kg), jump height (+ 4.5 cm), speed max (+ 0.18 m/s) and force max (+ 163.22 N). Conclusion: The study demonstrated that potential differences in anthropometric and physiological profiles are more difficult to capture in non-elite rowers, and that the final outcome may be determined by external factors. Therefore, athletes with superior aptitude for rowing are more difficult to select from among lower-ranking rowers, and further research is needed to determine specific training requirements to achieve the maximum rowing performance.

Body focus and cardioceptive accuracy are not associated with physical performance and perceived fatigue in a sample of individuals with regular physical activity.

It is often assumed that distracting attention from unpleasant body sensations evoked by physical exertion can alleviate perceived fatigue and increase physical performance. Also, the higher acuity of perception of heartbeats was associated with less physical performance in one study with sedentary participants. The current study was designed to shed more light on these associations. In a within-subject experiment, 98 students characterized by regular physical activity completed the Schandry-task assessing cardioceptive accuracy and cycled for 15 min on a bicycle ergometer at a convenient pace, listening to their own breathing through a headset (internal attention condition) or to distracting noises (external attention condition). Physical performance (number of pedal turns), physical exertion (heart rate), and self-reported fatigue were assessed for both tasks. Frequentist and Bayesian analyses showed no impact of the direction of attention and cardioceptive accuracy on physical performance, exertion, and perceived fatigue. In fact, the lack of association between cardioceptive accuracy and performance and perceived fatigue was more probable than the alternative hypothesis. Impact of distraction and cardioceptive accuracy on subjective and objective characteristics of physical exercise in the aerobic domain may be different for physically active and sedentary individuals. Future research in this area should systematically explore the background of these differences.

Physical Activity and Screen Time among Hungarian High School Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic Caused Distance Education Period.

BACKGROUND: High school education took place in the form of distance learning during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic worldwide, including Hungary. Decreased physical activity and an increase in inactive behaviours may lead to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. AIM: Our study targeted changes in physical activity (aerobic exercise, muscle strengthening) and screen time in adolescents and young adults during the pandemic. METHODS: High school students were interviewed in 66 public schools in 37 Hungarian cities (N = 2508). Survey items on physical activity and screen time were derived from the WHO Health Behaviour of School-aged Children Survey and the Centers for Disease Control Youth Risk Behavior Survey. A 2 × 2 factorial ANCOVA was used to test the effects of gender (male vs. female) and/or age (adolescents vs. young adults) on the reported changes in physical activity and screen time before and during lockdown (covariate: BMI Z-score). RESULTS: The majority of the cohort indicated less physical activity. Aerobic and muscle-strengthening type of exercises significantly decreased, and screen time increased during distance education. Male individuals showed a higher decrease in the level of aerobic exercise, and young adults reported a higher increase in the time spent in front of the screen.

[The effect of reduced oxygen saturation during sleep on depression]. / Az alvás alatt jelentkezo oxigénszaturáció-csökkenés hatása a depresszióra.

Introduction: Numerous data suggest that episodes of breathing disorder during sleep are closely related to chronic cardiovascular and mental illnesses. Aim: In this study, we sought to find out how the decrease in oxygen saturation level and its duration during sleep are affected by the degree of depression and its extent. Method: Data of 76 persons were processed in the study. The oxygen saturation measured during sleep was obtained from data from a polysomnographic filter device. Data collection for depression symptoms was done with a validated questionnaire. The decrease of night oxygen saturation on the effect of the disease was illustrated by the odds ratio calculation. Results: The value below 90% of the average oxygen saturation during sleep time will more than double the risk of developing depression. It is also a risk factor for the severity of depression. Examining the duration of sleep time at reduced saturation, it mainly increases the chance of severe depression. Conclusions: Hypoxia during sleep and duration of hypoxic periods are a risk factor for the development of depression with therapeutic and diagnostic consequences. Orv Hetil. 2019; 160(20): 780-783.

International Standards for the 3-Minute Burpee Test: High- Intensity Motor Performance.

The aim of this study was to develop international standards for evaluating strength endurance with the use of the 3-Minute Burpee Test. The results of 3862 women (Poland - 2502, Great Britain - 500, Hungary - 412, Serbia - 448) and 5971 men (Poland - 4517, Great Britain - 500, Hungary - 451, Serbia - 503) aged 18-25 (mean age of 20.36 ± 0.94 and 20.05 ± 1.25 y, respectively) were collated between 2004 and 2018. The students' strength endurance was evaluated in the 3-Minute Burpee Test. The results were expressed on a uniform scale with the 3-sigma rule which was used to develop the T-score scale for the 3-Minute Burpee Test. Men completed 56.69 cycles/3 min and women - 48.84/3 min on average. The best male participant completed 82 burpees, and the best female participant - 73 burpees. The majority of male and female participants (66.71% and 68.18%, respectively) were characterized by average strength endurance in the 3-Minute Burpee Test (range of scores: 47-66 and 37-60 cycles/3 min, respectively). Very good strength endurance (76-85 and 72-83 cycles/3 min, respectively) was noted in the smallest percentage of male and female participants (0.52% and 0.26%, respectively). Similar studies should be carried out in other countries and in different age groups to develop objective international classification standards for variously-aged individuals.

Master athletes have higher miR-7, SIRT3 and SOD2 expression in skeletal muscle than age-matched sedentary controls.

Regular physical exercise has health benefits and can prevent some of the ageing-associated muscle deteriorations. However, the biochemical mechanisms underlying this exercise benefit, especially in human tissues, are not well known. To investigate, we assessed this using miRNA profiling, mRNA and protein levels of anti-oxidant and metabolic proteins in the vastus lateralis muscle of master athletes aged over 65 years and age-matched controls. Master athletes had lower levels of miR-7, while mRNA or protein levels of SIRT3, SIRT1, SOD2, and FOXO1 levels were significantly higher in the vastus lateralis muscle of master athletes compared to muscles of age-matched controls. These results suggest that regular exercise results in better cellular metabolism and antioxidant capacity via maintaining physiological state of mitochondria and efficient ATP production and decreasing ageing-related inflammation as indicated by the lower level of miR-7 in master athletes.

Friendships and physical activity: investigating the connection in Central-Eastern European adolescents.

Studies investigating physical activity among adolescents living in post-communistic Central-European countries are sparse, particularly in light of the fact that some research has identified that adults in these countries exercise less frequently than western counterparts. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether physical activity participation is associated with certain friendship factors, the ability to make friends, level of involvement with friends, and perceived friends' involvement in physical activity, among 1,886 Central-Eastern European high schools students. The results of this study corroborated previous research in other adolescent populations in which it has been found that overall participation in physical activity was lowest among adolescents who said that making friends was difficult, who were less involved with friends, and who reported that making friends was difficult. The association of these friendship factors and physical activity participation has important implications for health education. Friendship factors should be given serious consideration in health education strategies and research efforts designed to increase youth physical activity.

Randomized controlled resistance training based physical activity trial for central European nursing home residing older adults.

BACKGROUND: Nursing home residing older adults often experience fear of sickness or death, functional impairment and pain. It is difficult for these older adults to maintain a physically active lifestyle and to keep a positive outlook on life. This study evaluated the changes in quality of life, attitude to aging, assertiveness, physical fitness and body composition of nursing home residing elderly through a 15-week organized resistance training based physical activity program. METHODS: Inactive older adults living in a state financed nursing home (N.=45) were randomly divided into two intervention groups and a control group. Both intervention groups were assigned to two physical activity sessions a week, but one of these groups also had weekly discussions on health and quality of life (Mental group). Data on anthropometric measures, fitness performance, as well as quality of life and attitudes to aging survey data were collected. Due to low attendance rate 12 subjects were excluded from the analyses. Statistical analysis included Paired Samples t-tests and Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance. RESULTS: Both intervention groups significantly improved their social participation, and their upper- and lower-body strength scores. Also, subjects in the Mental group showed improvement in agility fitness test and certain survey scales. No positive changes were detected in attitude towards aging and body composition measures in any groups. The post-hoc results suggest that Mental group improved significantly more than the Control group. CONCLUSIONS: Regular physical activity with discussions on health and quality of life made a more meaningful difference for the older adults living in nursing home than physical activity alone. Due to the fact that all participants were influenced by the program, it is suggested to further explore this area for better understanding of enhanced quality of life.

Agreement Between Omron 306 and Biospace InBody 720 Bioelectrical Impedance Analyzers (BIA) in Children and Adolescents.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to test the convergent validity of Omron 306 using Biospace InBody 720. METHOD: A total of 267 participants (145 boys; aged 10.4-17.9 years) completed testing during a single session. Each measure provided percent body fat (%BF), while the InBody 720 included fat-free mass (FFM). The validity was examined using the Pearson correlation. Limits of agreement (LOA) and multiple linear regression were also used to determine the impact of both age and FFM on the associations between the 2 measures. RESULTS: The 2 measures of %BF were correlated by .63 (p < .001) in boys and .89 (p < .001) in girls. The mean difference (i.e., InBody - Omron) for %BF in boys was - 4.7% with a lower LOA of - 20.5% and upper LOA of 11.2%. The same comparison for girls resulted in a difference of 3.0% with a lower LOA of - 10% and upper LOA of 4%. Examination of the residuals obtained from multiple linear regression indicated that FFM was the only statistically significant predictor of differences in boys (ßFFM = - 0.25 ± 0.08%, p = .001). There were no significant associations for girls. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that estimates of %BF obtained from Omron in boys exceed estimates from InBody 720. Disagreement was evident in younger boys with lower levels of FFM. Girls' %BF was closer between the 2 bioelectrical impedance analyzer measures (less residual) with age and FFM not explaining the disagreement. Overall, the 2 measures were not equivalent.

The intensities of various forms of physical activity in physical education programs offered by universities for female students

Abstract Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of various forms of physical activity (PA) among female students in physical education (PE) programs offered by universities in Poland, Hungary, and the United Kingdom. Methods: Two hundred full-time female university students (mean age: 19.93±0.82) enrolled in various PA programs. The participants' anthropometric traits were measured, and their body composition parameters were determined with the InBody analyzer. Based on the students' physiological parameters, the effectiveness of various types of PA was measured with Suunto Ambit3 peak heart rate monitors during 60 minutes of physical exertion. Results: The average values of body mass index (BMI), body fat mass (BFM), percent body fat (PBF), waist-hip ratio (WHR), visceral fat level (VFL), and obesity degree were significantly (p<0.05) lower among students who participated in jogging followed by sauna (JFBS), performed martial arts and attended general physical education (PE) classes. Physiological parameters were the highest in the martial art group, followed by JFBS and swimming groups, and they were significantly (p<0.05) higher than the values recorded in other PA groups (golf, aerobics, general PE classes, cycling, and individual training). Physiological parameters were significantly (p<0.05) lower among students who played golf and trained individually. Conclusions: Martial arts, JFBS, and swimming were the most effective types of PA among female university students. Students performing martial arts and JFBS had relatively lower body fat levels, whereas students who practiced swimming had the highest body fat levels in the population sample.