BENEFITS OF EXERCISE FOR IMPROVING HEALTH STATUS OF AN INDIVIDUAL’S AMONG UNDERGRADUATES, UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, ILORIN, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed the benefits of exercise for improving health status of an individual’s among undergraduates,
University Of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. The purpose of the study was to examine if exercise improves physical and
mental health status of an individual among undergraduates, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. A descriptive
research design of the survey type was used for the study. The population for the study comprised all
undergraduates of University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. A sample of three hundred and eighty (380) respondents
was selected using multi-stage sampling procedure. A researcher developed questionnaire validated by three
experts and tested for reliability using a split half method was used as instrument for the study. Data was
analysed using frequency and percentage for demographic data while an inferential statistics of chi-square (2)
was used to test the formulated null hypotheses. Findings revealed that exercise improves physical and mental
health status of an individual among undergraduates, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. Findings also revealed
that exercise significantly influence physical health status (calculated 2 value 60.29 > table 2 value 16.92) and
mental health status (calculated 2 value 88.76 > table 2 value 16.92) of an individual. It was therefore
concluded that exercise improves both physical and mental health status of an individual. The researcher
recommended amongst others that students should maintain regular exercise as routine activity which can help
to improve healthy muscular strength and flexibility.