Knowledge of the Influence of Lifestyle on Fitness Promotion Among Secondary School Students
Chapter One
Objectives of the Study
This study primarily aims to investigate the knowledge of the influence of lifestyle on fitness promotion among secondary school students. The study is also set out to achieve the following specific objectives:
- Establish the level of knowledge of the impact of lifestyle on fitness promotion by secondary school students.
- Establish if secondary school students have a lifestyle that promotes their physical fitness.
- Establish if secondary school students meet recommended levels of physical fitness promotion activities.
- Establish if secondary school students get adequate education and enlightenment on the impact of lifestyle on fitness promotion and overall wellbeing.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Concept of Healthy Lifestyle
Lifestyle as a phenomenon is defined as the personal customs or habits of an individual or group of individuals. It alludes to their active adaptation to the social milieu which develops as a product of need for integration and socialization (Encarta Encyclopedia, 2009). With regards to health, lifestyle refers to dietary habits, physical activity habits, the social use of substances such as alcohol and tobacco and exposure to other risky behaviours. There are also some factors that affect 20 the healthy lifestyle status, physical and mental factors, physical activity, health and physical fitness, nutrition and diet quality, stress, drugs and alcohol as earlier stated. All these functions contribute either positively or negatively to lifestyle choices of any individual (Safer, 2007). However, an individual adopting a negative lifestyle should be ready to bear risks of choric diseases that share risk factors such as unhealthy nutritional choices, smoking, lack of physical exercise, sedentary behaviour and life-stress. These do not result only to disease process culminating in high morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, nicotine and nutrition induced cancers, chronic-bronchitis, emphysema but also results to under achievement or failure to meet set goals, life aims and objectives either in or our work place, academic pursuits or whatever goals a person sets in life, (Hoeger, 2008).
Physical fitness
Physical fitness is having sound strength and endurances which promotes a healthy mind. Fitness was commonly defined as the capacity to carry out day’s activities without undue fatigue. However, as automation increased leisure time, changes in lifestyles following the industrial revolution rendered the definition insufficient. In current contexts, physical fitness is considered a measure of the body’s ability to function efficiently and effectively in work and leisure activities to be healthy, to resist hypokinetic diseases, and to meet emergency situations (Brandon et al., (2009). Hypokinetics are conditions related to inactivity or low levels of habitual i.e. obesity, excess body weight and diabetes. Also physical fitness is defined by as a state of well-being with low risk of premature health problems and possessions of reserved energy to participate in varieties of physical activities (Howley and Franks, 1997; Crespo et al., 1999). The amount of physical activity needed to maintain a healthy weight, lose weight, promote good health; including prevention of hypokinetic diseases are recommended by various organizations in the United States, to be 30 minutes of moderate physical activity in most of the weeks. This level of activity might include walking, jogging, running, gardening, and yard work or swimming (United State, Department of Health and Human Services, 1996, Pereira, 1997, Evenson et al., 2002). The prevalence of obesity continues to increase in Nigeria particularly in the University. The factors that appeared to be most responsible are sedentary behaviour patterns and excessive fat in the diet. Sedentary lifestyles is defined in relation to the numbers of hours that individual spend sitting down in a typical day or the number of hours expended walking or in either specific activities (Jose et al., 2003). Another definition of sedentary lifestyle referred to those individuals who did not practice any physical activity during their leisure time and in addition spent long time sitting down (Fiedman and Thieibar, 1972). Majority of the University staff (Academic and non- academic staff) walk about with pot-belly and hearty hips buttocks occasioned by sedentary behaviour adopted in their work places. The few ones who works in the administrative block (The Senate Building) depend largely on the use of powered – lift to get to their offices located from 1st-6th floors of the building. A less significant proportion makes use of the staircase provided within. Motivating individuals to exercise regularly is difficult as demonstrated by members of the university community to participate regularly and turn –out in large numbers for the monthly Unilorin walk-a keep fit initiative of the university administration. The maiden edition of Unilorin walk recorded large turn-out, attendance at the subsequent editions recorded low turn – out. Adherent to fitness programme in a study reported by John and Goodrick, (1995) ranges from 50% to 65% in the first months and then drops to about 43% at the end of one year. Programme factors related to drop – out include inconvenience, exercise intensity, inadequate feedback, poor leadership, length of sessions, lack of time, laziness/tiredness, perception that physical activity is boring and perception that physical activity is not needed or that one’s daily occupation provide enough activity.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitutes of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried to examine knowledge of the influence of lifestyle on fitness promotion among secondary school students. selected secondary schools in Edo State form the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain knowledge of the influence of lifestyle on fitness promotion among secondary school students. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of knowledge of the influence of lifestyle on fitness promotion among secondary school students
Summary
This study was on knowledge of the influence of lifestyle on fitness promotion among secondary school students. Three objectives were raised which included: . Establish the level of the knowledge of the impact of lifestyle on fitness promotion by secondary school students, Establish if secondary school students have a lifestyle that promotes their physical fitness, Establish if secondary school students meet recommended levels of physical fitness promotion activities and Establish if secondary school students get adequate education and enlightenment on the impact of lifestyle on fitness promotion and overall wellbeing. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from selected secondary schools in Edo State. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
Health is wealth, participation in health related programmes though not compulsory but contribute greatly to all and development of the body and improve productivity. Staff and students of secondary schools should strive to utilize abundant health promotion initiatives or programmes put in place by the school administration. This will stem down the untimely deaths and incidences of cardiovascular diseases now common in Nigeria.
Recommendation
Walk-a keep fit programme be organized on faculty/department basis as a secondary school wide programme will not bring the desire result.
- A de-militarized academics environment that will enable the staff and students to take care of their health is recommended.
- More publicity should be carried out so as to boost staff and students attendance at the monthly health talk organized to address causes, problem and management of hipokinetics diseases.
- General studies unit of the school to introduce knowledge of the causes, problem and management of hypokinetics diseases as well as physical fitness programme in its course contact for the students.
References
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- David, B. (2002), Physical Activity and Coronary Heart Diseases in Older Adults. A Systematic Review of Epidemiological Studies. European Journal of Public Health, 12( 2), 171-176.
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- Fieldman, S.D. and Thielbar, G.W. (1972), Lifestyle: Diversity in American Society (Eds). Little Brown and Co. Boston.
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