While the college-aged population tends to be considered a physically healthy group, most do not get enough exercise.1 Coinciding with academic pressure, financial stress, and new personal responsibilities, the college transition can introduce barriers to healthy lifestyle habits and routines, such as physical activity.
Despite this, college students are often overlooked in physical activity promotion efforts, highlighting the need for a targeted approach from their schools.2 Decades of research show that exercise can be the best medicine, producing an array of physical and mental health benefits that can improve student wellbeing.3 As college students enter a transitional life phase, it’s important for schools to promote regular exercise as an important part to a healthy, happy, and high-quality life.
Benefits of exercise
Physical health
A sedentary lifestyle can lead to an increased risk of all-cause mortality later in life, highlighting the importance of exercise promotion in early adulthood. Regular physical activity can positively impact many aspects of health, preventing and treating chronic diseases, strengthening the immune system, improving sleep, and more. Exercise helps fight obesity and hypertension, both linked to cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, which are increasing among 18- to 24-year-olds.2
Mental health
Mental health and wellbeing are a growing concern among college students, as over 60% have reported moderate to severe psychological distress, and nearly 40% have had a clinical diagnosis of a mental health disorder.2 Research shows that physical activity can reduce symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression, improve mood and motivation, and increase self-esteem and cognitive functioning.4 These benefits, in turn, can lead to improved academic performance and healthy socialization on campus.
Promoting exercise on campus
To embed physical activity into everyday campus life, it is essential to maintain a campus where this is possible. This includes developing a walkable campus, offering fitness sessions, and launching messaging campaigns that encourage movement throughout the day.
Encouraging students
While resources vary campus to campus, promoting physical activity can be as easy as encouraging students to walk to class, the library, or the dining hall, stretching during study breaks, or taking the stairs rather than the elevator. More than this, students can take advantage of their school’s sports facilities—use the gym, track, or pool, signup for physical education classes, or join a sports or outdoor recreation club.
To improve participation, schools should start with an upbeat, encouraging messaging campaign across campus, letting students know of the benefits of physical activity and the options available to them.
Offering accessible physical activity opportunities
One way to promote increased physical activity on campus is by requiring a physical activity course as a graduation requirement. These courses will allow students to learn about the benefits of physical activity while being introduced to the recreational resources on campus.
Additionally, offering a wide array of clubs and intramural sports for students to join will ensure that all students find something that piques their interest. From basketball to badminton, pickleball to volleyball, providing different types of activities at different skill levels ensures that all students of all capabilities and backgrounds are able to participate. Furthermore, prioritizing usable campus facilities for all students will maintain an inclusive atmosphere, ensuring physical activity is accessible to all.
Exercise with community
Lastly, pairing physical activity with community building through peer-led fitness groups can allow students to socialize while building healthy habits. Even typically solo ways of exercise can be turned into a form of social networking, like hiking clubs, group kickboxing classes, or relay races. Group exercise can provide connection, motivation, and accountability, all that may help students embed physical activity into their daily routines.
Take aways
Research shows that physical activity levels can significantly decline after high school, as young adults enter a time marked by increased independence and shifting social structures.2 Along with this transition may come changing behaviors, like poor nutrition and sleep, increased smoking and drinking, and declining self-care.
Many students need support and encouragement from their schools and peers to increase their physical activity. Campus Health 360 aims to promote health initiatives across campuses, extending beyond Wellfleet members — from walking to class to joining an intramural sport, promoting exercise on campus will help build a healthier, happier, and higher achieving student body at your school.
Sign up for the Campus Health 360 Newsletter to make sure you stay up to date on campus wellness.
Resources
- Calestine, J., Bopp, M., Bopp, C. M., & Papalia, Z. (2017). College Student Work Habits are Related to Physical Activity and Fitness. International journal of exercise science, 10(7), 1009–1017. https://doi.org/10.70252/XLOM8139
- Scroggs, G. J., Battista, R. A., & Kappus, R. M. (2025a, July 10). Bridging the gap: Promoting physical activity in college-aged students. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2025/25_0118.htm
- Thompson, W. R., Sallis, R., Joy, E., Jaworski, C. A., Stuhr, R. M., & Trilk, J. L. (2020). Exercise Is Medicine. American journal of lifestyle medicine, 14(5), 511–523. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827620912192
- Sharma, A., Madaan, V., & Petty, F. D. (2006). Exercise for mental health. Primary care companion to the Journal of clinical psychiatry, 8(2), 106. https://doi.org/10.4088/pcc.v08n0208a
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