Impact Of A Smart App On Health-related Fitness In College Students: 12-week Study Results

This study investigated the effects of a 12-week smart app intervention on health-related fitness and exercise behaviors among college students. PURPOSE: The primary objective was to assess whether a smart app could significantly enhance key health-related fitness metrics—speed, strength, endurance, and flexibility—compared to a self-monitoring group and a non-intervention control group. METHODS: A total of 1,171 freshmen from the 2023 cohort were randomly assigned to one of three groups: the smart app intervention group (N = 379), a self-monitoring group (N = 406), and a control group without intervention (N = 386). Over 12 weeks, participants engaged in regular physical activities and were assessed on health-related fitness metrics, including vital capacity, 50-meter dash, standing long jump, sit-and-reach, 1000-meter run (male), 800-meter run (female), pull-ups (male), and sit-ups (female). ANOVA and LSD post hoc comparisons were used to analyze differences across groups. RESULTS: The smart app intervention group showed significant improvements in speed (F = 11.62, p < 0.01), endurance (1000-meter run F = 11.77, p < 0.01; 800-meter run F = 13.05, p < 0.01), and strength (F = 9.82, p < 0.01), particularly in the 50-meter dash and standing long jump. This group outperformed both the self-monitoring and control groups in sprinting, endurance, and strength exercises. However, no significant differences were found in lung capacity among groups, and flexibility improvements were more pronounced among males than females. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that smart apps can effectively improve health-related fitness, particularly in areas requiring speed, strength, and endurance. The personalized training programs and real-time feedback offered by the app were more impactful than self-monitoring strategies. These results suggest that incorporating smart technology in college physical education programs could help students achieve better health and fitness outcomes.