PeerJ. 2025 Oct 23;13:e20293. doi: 10.7717/peerj.20293. eCollection 2025.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study expands existing research by examining longitudinal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical college students’ physical fitness.
METHODS: A medical college in Wenzhou, was selected to examine the changes in physical fitness indicators among students from 2019 to 2021.
RESULTS: While most students maintained normal weight status (85.2%), overweight/obese prevalence increased significantly (8.0% in 2019, 8.9% in 2020, and 10.1% in 2021). Among male students, 67.0% were classified within the passing range, while the majority of female students (55.0%) fell within the “good” grade category. In 2021, a significant decline was observed in the standing long jump, 50-m dash, and 1,000/800 m run (p < 0.05) across both genders.
CONCLUSIONS: The lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have significantly contributed to increased weight gain among college students and a decline in their endurance running performance.
PMID:41146996 | PMC:PMC12554305 | DOI:10.7717/peerj.20293
