Background:

A high percentage of Chilean university students are inactive.

Aim:

To determine differences in physical activity (PA) levels and energy expenditure in a group of university students according to their length of stay in the university.

Material and Methods:

We studied 56 students aged 22 ± 2 years (29 women). They wore a triaxial accelerometer during seven days, determining steps/day, steps/min, sedentary time and PA levels. Participants also answered a PA questionnaire. Their weight and height were measured. They were divided in two groups according to the time spent at university (1-2 years and 3-5 years).

Results:

No significant differences in energy expenditure were observed between both groups of students. The number of steps/day and steps/ min was significantly higher in the group with 3 to 5 years in the university than their counterparts with 1-2 years.

Conclusions:

As the university years increase, there is a tendency to increase the time spent walking (18.3%) but without an increase in the moderate-vigorous PA.