Sophomore Carolyn Kent needs to squeeze her workouts into her free time between classes.
"I have about an hour and a half, so I have to run to the gym, work out and get back in time," she said.
Sometimes, the balance of fitness and academics leads her to study and work out simultaneously. "I make flashcards and go over them while I'm on a machine," Kent said. "People do work out and study at the same time. It's not that uncommon."
But the short, intensive workouts that many Duke students engage in may not be the best way to stay in shape. A recent study led by Duke University Medical Center researchers found that time might be a more important factor than intensity in exercise.
In other words, they found that a cross-campus jog will do more for cardiovascular health than a hard sprint.
In the study, 133 overweight men and women were randomly assigned to three different groups. The first group participated in low amount/moderate intensity exercise, or walking 12 miles a week at 40 to 55 percent of total intensity. The second group participated in low amount/high intensity exercise, or walking briskly 12 miles a week at 65 to 80 percent intensity. The third group participated in high amount/high intensity exercise, or walking briskly 20 miles a week at 65 to 80 percent intensity.
There was also a control group.
Overall change in cardiovascular fitness was measured in the subjects after seven to nine months. The results found that there was not a significant difference between those who exercised at high intensity and those who exercised at low intensity. However, there was a marked difference in fitness between those who walked a long distance and those who walked a shorter distance.
The findings concluded that the amount of exercise is just as important as the intensity of the exercise-if not more so.
"As little as walking briskly 12 miles [a week] can give cardiovascular health benefits," said Brian Duscha, lead author of the study and research coordinator in the cardiovascular department at DUMC. "Basically, any [exercise] is better than none, and more is better than less."
However, for students short on time, increasing the amount of exercise they do may not be possible. "Sometimes it gets difficult to balance studying and working out," freshman Julien Cobert said. "Working out is very important to me, and it is necessary to be healthy."
Ideally, Cobert said he would work out two hours a day, six days a week.
Though time constraints play a role in being able to exercise, many on campus agree that physical fitness is important to the student body.
Cobert-who has been working out routinely for three years and is a certified personal trainer-feels that Duke students care about staying fit. "This is an athletic school, and you can see that the people here put importance on staying in shape," he said.
Michael Forbes, director of intramurals and club sports, said students are doing a good job being active. He estimates that there are 4,000 to 5,000 student participants in intramurals. A since he arrived at Duke four years ago, there has been about a 10 percent growth rate in intramural participation.
"Every time I walk through the gym, it's packed," Forbes said. "Students here are definitely taking advantage of the activities they are offered. They are looking for things to do, and to stay fit."
He said some schools are finding difficulty in getting students involved with intramurals and club sports, whereas Duke has "already capped out on the number of students" that can participate. Forbes is looking to introduce even more fitness-oriented activities on campus.
"Our revenues have been growing by about 10 percent a year," said Jack Chao, manager of the popular eatery Quenchers in Wilson Recreation Center."Many students are utilizing Wilson gym and taking advantage of what we have to offer here."
Chao said he believes the increased sales of health foods reflects the health concerns of students.
Bob Hartel, Brodie Recreation Center entrance monitor, said the East Campus gym is also used often. "It is always pretty busy here," he said. "A fair amount of people use our facilities and they come often."
However, Hartel expressed concern that it is the "same people who are coming to the gym, over and over."
Duscha also said he has concerns that only students already in shape are working out. "It is the people that aren't in the gym that should be in the gym," he said. "People who aren't in shape may not want to be around people who are."
He believes students may have difficulty finding motivation to begin exercise. "Students who were more sedentary in high school don't begin to workout intensely as soon as they get to college," he said.
Duscha noted that students should find an activity they enjoy and commit to it.
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