EFFICACY OF THE PREVALENCE OF PHYSICAL INACTIVITY TO PHYSICAL FITNESS AND HEALTH AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS

This study examined the prevalence of physical inactivity and its relationship with selected health indicators among college students from Pagadian Capitol College, West Prime Horizon. and Yllana Bayview College. A descriptive-comparative research design was employed, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential tests, including one-way ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis test. Findings revealed that respondents were relatively homogeneous in age, height, weight, and Body Mass Index (BMI) across the three institutions. The prevalence of physical inactivity was moderately high and consistent across schools, with no significant differences found in overall inactivity levels (p > 0.05). However, significant differences were observed across inactivity domains (p < 0.05), particularly in daily activity behaviors. In terms of health indicators, oxygen saturation showed a significant difference across schools (p < 0.05), while heart rate did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). Overall, the results indicate that physical inactivity is a common concern among college students regardless of institutional affiliation. The findings emphasize that inactivity is influenced more by behavioral, environmental, and motivational factors than by school context. These results highlight the need for comprehensive and multi-institutional interventions focusing on lifestyle modification, improved physical activity engagement, and supportive environments to enhance physical fitness and health outcomes among college respondents.