Cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity patterns among Indonesian medical students: A cross-sectional study at Universitas Padjadjaran

Background: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and physical activity are important indicators of long-term health. However, evidence regarding these measures among medical students in Indonesia following COVID-19 social restrictions remains limited. This study aimed to describe CRF, physical activity levels, and sedentary behavior among medical students enrolled in 2021. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study involved 84 medical students, including 48 women and 36 men. CRF was assessed using predicted maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) derived from the 6-minute walk test (6-MWT). Physical activity was assessed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) and expressed as metabolic equivalent minutes per week (MET-min/week). Daily sedentary time was also recorded. Results: The median 6-MWT distance was 518.5 m, corresponding to a median predicted VO2max of 19.5 mL/kg/min. All participants were classified as having low or very low CRF based on predicted VO2max. Mean weekly physical activity was 3,808 MET-min/week among men and 2,227 MET-min/week among women. Work/study-related activities contributed the largest proportion of overall physical activity, followed by recreational and transport-related activities. Mean daily sedentary time was 428 minutes among men and 463 minutes among women. Although most participants had moderate or high physical activity levels, low CRF and prolonged sedentary time were common. Conclusion: Medical students exhibited low CRF and prolonged sedentary time despite predominantly moderate-to-high physical activity levels. These findings suggest that total physical activity volume alone may not ensure adequate CRF. Structured aerobic exercise and strategies to reduce sedentary time may help improve fitness in this population. Future longitudinal studies should examine the associations between exercise modalities, body composition, nutritional factors, and changes in CRF.