Regular cardiovascular exercise can benefit college students’ physical and mental well-being. Cardio activities such as walking and running help strengthen the heart and lungs, lower or prevent high blood pressure, improve sleep, boost mood, and manage appetite. Some studies also suggest consistent cardio can contribute to longevity and help prevent chronic illnesses, including type 2 diabetes.
Cardio also can boost mood and improve sleep. It can also manage appetite. Getting enough cardio can also help with living a longer life. It helps the muscles in the body. It can lower the chances of developing type two diabetes as well.
It helps with weight loss paired with a healthy nutrition plan. Exercise Science major Daija Bridges says that students may gain the “freshman 15” meaning starting college, students can gain weight due during their first year of college. She explains that cardio can help burn those extra calories students are eating.
“We'll gain weight, and then we're walking to and from class,” said Bridges. “And a lot of us try to park as close to our buildings as possible without realizing that if we actually do more walking, it can help us to burn that fat that we're constantly eating.”
Bridges recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, such as walking, per week, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise, such as running.
“Well, we should walk or do moderate-intensity exercise about 150 minutes a week,” Bridges said. “But it can also be like 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise a week and things like that, just depending on your goals.”
Freshman student Kody Duncan has been running for almost two years. He explains when he runs, it is therapeutic as if he has nothing to do but just run. It is motivating for him if he runs in the morning because it helps him get through the day and get things done.
“It also can be pretty therapeutic if I have nothing else to do or whatever, because I know I’m getting my exercise, I know I’m getting my miles in, and I know I’m being productive that day,” Duncan said. “It also motivates me because if I do it really early in the morning, it’ll motivate me to do schoolwork.”
Duncan also encourages students to start running and stick with it. He explains that running clubs are very welcoming no matter what pace one runs.
