Abstract

Abstract College education may be the last opportunity to educate a large segment of young adults to be physical active and develop a healthy lifestyle. This study examined Zanjan University students' risks for cardiovascular disease, physical activity (PA) patterns, and effects of physical education and extracurricular programs on promoting PA. Male and female (N=342) students participated in the project. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and blood pressure were used to estimate risks for potential heart problems while PA patterns were assessed using a pre-validated questionnaire. In term of waist circumference, over weight and obesity, and hypertension, the data from the study suggested that about 2, 18, and 23 percent of the participants were at a high risk level for heart problems, respectively. None of participants (0%) performed adequate amounts of PA (70 MET per week). Those who were taking part physical education extracurricular reported significantly greater amounts of PA (MET) than those who were not. Eventually, students need interventions in University physical education programs to improve their health and PA amount. Keywords: Leisure time exercise, extracurricular program, MET, Cardiovascular health, University.