PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND FITNESS ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS.

ABSTRACT

The study seeks to evaluate the impact of Physical Activity and Fitness On Academic Achievement of Undergraduate Students, particularly among undergraduate studenst in the Universitry of Benin; with the purpose of investigating the relationship between physical activity and fitness on students’ academic performance. The benefits of physical activity and fitness, the impact of physical education on academic performance of undergraduate students in University of Benin. Six research question were raised to guide the study.

The design of the study is through a cross sectional method, adopting both the qualitative and quantitative research approaches to formulate a research instrument using a designed questionnaire which was validated by the researcher’s supervisor and other expersts in the faculty of education. The research instrument was used to elicit response from 200 respondents in the University of Benin. The study found out that; physical inactivity revealed the effects of physical activity or exercise on the health of people have been espoused in literature; the study also found that; the study also found out that regular physical activity is found to improve psychological health by helping people cope with stress more successfully than they would without such engagements. The study concluded that the health implications of physical inactivity revealed that lack of regular physical exercise could cause stress among undergraduate students. The study recommended that; undergraduate students take part in various forms of regular physical activity of moderate intensity and time; also communities should provide fitness centres that are stocked with training equipment to facilitate regular physical exercise.