Diverse university students enjoying physical activities on a vibrant campus.

Unlock Your Potential: How University Students Can Boost Physical Activity for a Healthier Future

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Reese Marlowe in Health & Wellness October 2026 • 4 min read.

"Individual Counseling and Activity Monitors: Effective Tools for Promoting a More Active Lifestyle on Campus"


University life often presents a unique challenge to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The transition from secondary school, coupled with demanding academic schedules, can lead to a significant decline in physical activity (PA) among students. This shift towards a more sedentary lifestyle poses risks that extend beyond the college years, impacting long-term health and well-being.

Recognizing this critical need, researchers are actively exploring effective interventions to promote PA among university students. While course-based programs and group activities have shown promise, the limitations of these approaches in diverse university settings highlight the importance of individual-based strategies. Personalized counseling and the use of activity monitors offer alternative avenues for encouraging a more active lifestyle.

This article delves into a compelling study that investigates the effectiveness of individual counseling and activity monitors in promoting PA among university students. By examining the impact of these strategies, we aim to provide valuable insights for students and universities seeking to foster a healthier campus environment.

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What the Available Data Shows

A systematic review examined scientific evidence on physical activity and physical fitness among university students, using searches and analysis conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. The CDC’s physical activity data page provides maps, statistics, surveillance systems, and other data for public health practitioners. The supplied source details do not include specific student activity rates or numerical estimates of impact, so none can be stated here.

The Power of Personalized Counseling and Activity Monitoring

Diverse university students enjoying physical activities on a vibrant campus.

The study, published in The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, involved 33 university students who were randomly assigned to one of three groups: individual counseling (ICG), PA monitors (PAMG), and a control group (CG). The ICG received tailored counseling sessions via videoconferencing, based on social-cognitive theory and the transtheoretical model of behavior change. The PAMG utilized wearable PA monitors designed to motivate increased activity, while the CG received no intervention. The interventions lasted 12 weeks, with PA levels assessed at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and three months later.

The results revealed significant improvements in the individual counseling group. Students in the ICG reported increased energy expenditure between baseline and the end of the intervention, maintaining this improvement at the three-month follow-up. They also demonstrated progression through stages of change, indicating a positive shift in their attitudes and behaviors towards physical activity. However, objective measures from ActiGraph monitors did not show a corresponding increase in PA levels, suggesting potential limitations in capturing the specific types of activities undertaken by participants.

  • Individual Counseling: Provides personalized guidance and support, addressing individual barriers and motivations.
  • Activity Monitors: Offer real-time feedback and encourage self-monitoring of PA levels.
  • Combined Approach: Integrates the benefits of both strategies, providing a comprehensive approach to promoting PA.
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Research on Activity, Well-Being, and Learning

A systematic review focused on university students examines physical activity in relation to perceived stress, anxiety, depression, and well-being, noting that existing findings are heterogeneous. A separate 2026 systematic review sets out to assess whether classroom-based activity breaks affect attention, engagement, academic emotions, and academic performance in university students. Research reviews also examine factors that influence students’ physical activity and studies of activity’s association with college students’ mental well-being.

Different Findings and Research Questions

A 2021 systematic review concluded that university students showed satisfactory physical activity and physical fitness levels. By contrast, a 2024 review describes most university students as not active enough to gain the benefits of physical activity. These statements differ in their overall characterization, and the supplied details do not establish whether the reviews used comparable measures or populations. A 2026 study instead compares activity enjoyment between students with high and low fitness, as defined by standardized national fitness assessments.

While the study highlights the potential of individual counseling, it also acknowledges the challenges of accurately measuring PA levels. The contrasting results between self-reported data and accelerometer measurements suggest that certain activities, such as resistance training or cycling, may not be fully captured by waist-worn monitors. Further research is needed to explore the most effective methods for assessing PA in diverse populations.

Empowering University Students to Embrace Active Living

The study's findings underscore the importance of tailored interventions that address the unique needs and challenges of university students. Individual counseling, delivered via convenient videoconferencing, shows promise as a strategy for promoting PA and fostering positive behavior change. By combining personalized support with innovative monitoring techniques, universities can empower students to embrace active living and unlock their full potential for a healthier future.

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Tracking Fitness and Supporting Development

A study tracking university students from 2013 to 2025 reports substantial changes in physical fitness over time. Although post-2020 cohorts had relatively higher baseline performance on several indicators, their subsequent fitness trajectories across university years were generally weaker than those of pre-2020 cohorts. A 2026 study reports that participation in a university physical education course was associated with positive changes in physical fitness and life skills, suggesting potential educational value for students’ physical and psychosocial development.

Understanding Barriers to Student Activity

A systematic review aims to identify barriers to physical activity among high school and university students to help inform physical activity and health-promotion programs. A separate review emphasizes that understanding the influences on university students’ activity through behaviour change theory can inform effective, evidence-based interventions. The supplied source details establish these research aims but do not specify particular barriers or their prevalence.

About this Article -

Written with AI assistance from published research, and reviewed by the Mystum team. See our About page for more information.

Everything You Need To Know

1

What methods were used to encourage physical activity among the students in the study?

The study explored the effectiveness of **Individual Counseling** (ICG) and **Activity Monitors** (PAMG) in promoting physical activity (PA) among university students. **Individual Counseling** provides personalized guidance and support, addressing individual barriers and motivations. **Activity Monitors** offer real-time feedback and encourage self-monitoring of PA levels. A control group (CG) received no intervention. The research aimed to find strategies to combat sedentary lifestyles in university environments.

2

Why is Individual Counseling important in the context of the study?

The use of **Individual Counseling** is significant because it acknowledges that students have unique needs and challenges. The **Individual Counseling** sessions, delivered via videoconferencing, were tailored and based on the **social-cognitive theory and the transtheoretical model of behavior change**. The goal was to promote PA and foster positive behavior change. The results revealed that the **Individual Counseling** group reported increased energy expenditure and showed positive shifts in their attitudes and behaviors towards physical activity, highlighting the potential of personalized support.

3

What were the key findings related to Individual Counseling?

The study found that students in the **Individual Counseling** group reported increased energy expenditure throughout the 12-week intervention and maintained this improvement at the three-month follow-up. They also showed progression through stages of change, indicating a positive shift in their attitudes and behaviors towards physical activity. This suggests that **Individual Counseling** can be an effective tool for promoting lasting behavior change related to physical activity in university students, improving long-term health and well-being.

4

What are the limitations of using Activity Monitors in the study?

While **Activity Monitors** (PAMG) were used to motivate increased activity, they showed some limitations. Objective measures from ActiGraph monitors did not show a corresponding increase in PA levels, despite the **Individual Counseling** group's reported increase in energy expenditure. This discrepancy suggests that the **Activity Monitors** may not capture all types of physical activity, such as resistance training or cycling. Further research is needed to explore the most effective methods for assessing PA in diverse populations.

5

How can universities use these findings to promote active living?

Universities can empower students to embrace active living by implementing tailored interventions. **Individual Counseling**, delivered via convenient methods like videoconferencing, shows promise in promoting PA. By integrating personalized support, such as **Individual Counseling**, with innovative monitoring techniques, such as **Activity Monitors**, universities can foster a healthier campus environment. This can help students overcome sedentary lifestyles, improve their well-being, and unlock their full potential for a healthier future. The interventions lasted 12 weeks, with PA levels assessed at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and three months later.

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