ENCOURAGING COLLEGE STUDENTS TO EXERCISE.

• Position: Ohio State University study on exercise motivation and habits - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

College students are more likely to exercise if they have social support for being active, but the best kind of social support differs between men and women. A study of 937 students at Ohio State University, Columbus, found that women were more likely to exercise if they had the social support of family, while the support of friends was more important for men. "We found that it's important for college students to have people to encourage them to stay physically fit, but the source of the social support makes a difference for men and women" explains Lorraine Silver Wallace, who co-authored the research as a doctoral student at the university.

Overall, 52% of the students were physically inactive or exercised irregularly; 31% had exercised regularly for six months or longer; and 17% had exercised regularly for less than six months. "The steepest decline in the number of people who are involved in physical activity occurs during adolescence and early adulthood, so it is crucial that we reach those college students who are not yet regular exercisers" emphasizes Janet Buckworth, assistant professor of sport and exercise sciences. "We need to find ways to help the roughly half of college students who are not exercising regularly."

In the college atmosphere, it may be easier for males...