Abstract: BACKGROUND:Obesity is a risk factor for many chronic diseases. In recent years, the obesity rate of college students in my country has been on the rise. Undergraduates are under great academic pressure and have little exercise time, and their obesity needs attention from the society.
Studies have found that different intensities of physical activities improve fat composition of obese or overweight people of different sexes to different extent.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristics of daily physical activity and fat distribution in college students, and to explore the correlation between physical activity and fat distribution.
METHODS: In total, 1 875 college students from a college of Guangxi Province were randomly selected using random sampling method. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) (Chinese version) to collect their physical activity data for the past week, and a body composition measuring instrument was used to measure their fat parameter. Male and female college students were divided into three groups according to body fat rate. Male college students:   ≤ 10%, 11%-21%, ≥ 22%; female college students: ≤ 20%, 21%-34%, ≥ 35%. SPSS 23.0 was used for data processing and analysis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Fat mass: In male college students, total fat mass > subcutaneous fat mass > trunk fat mass > lower limb fat mass > visceral fat mass > upper limb fat mass; in female college students, total fat mass > subcutaneous fat mass > trunk fat mass > lower limb fat mass > upper limb fat mass > visceral fat mass. (2) Physical activity: in college students, low-intensity physical activity > medium-intensity physical activity > high-intensity physical activity. (3) Body fat rate: In male college students, low-intensity, medium-intensity and total physical activity were highest in the < 10% group, followed by 11%-21% group and ≥ 22% group in turn (all P < 0.05), and the high-intensity physical activity in the < 10% group was higher than that in the 11%-21% group and ≥22% group (all P < 0.05). In female college students, low-intensity and medium-intensity physical activity in the < 20% group was higher than that in the 21%-34% group and ≥ 35% group (all P < 0.05), and the high-intensity and total physical activity was highest in the < 20% group, followed by 21%-34% group and ≥ 35% group in turn (all P < 0.05). (4) Correlation analysis: In male college students, low-intensity physical activity was significantly negatively correlated with total fat mass, visceral fat content, trunk fat mass, and lower limb fat mass (all r < 0, all P < 0.05), and other fat parameters were significantly negatively correlated with medium-intensity, high-intensity and total physical activity (all r < 0, all P < 0.05). In female college students, visceral fat mass was significantly negatively correlated with high-intensity physical activity (r < 0, P < 0.01), and trunk fat mass was significantly negatively correlated with high-intensity physical activity and total physical activity (both r < 0, both P < 0.01), and other fat parameters were significantly negatively correlated with low-intensity physical activity, medium-intensity physical activity, high-intensity physical activity, and total physical activity (all r < 0, all P < 0.05). To conclude, there are sex differences in physical activity and fat distribution among college students, and the fat rate of the group with active physical activity is low. The increase in physical activity of various strengths is beneficial to the reduction of body fat. In male college students, subcutaneous fat mass and upper limb fat mass are mainly affected by medium-intensity and high-intensity physical activity, and in female college students, visceral fat mass and trunk fat mass are mainly affected by high-intensity physical activity.

Key words: body fat rate, college students, physical activity, fat distribution