Abstract

The numerous advantages of participation in physical activities (physical exercise) are increased efficiency of the heart and lungs, increased muscle strength and endurance, maintenance of proper body weight, and reduction of risk of coronary heart diseases. The study was conducted to ascertain students’ knowledge of the effects of physical activities on their health and their level of participation in physical activities, to achieve optimum level of health (wellness) in the new millennium.  A total of three hundred students randomly selected from the three campuses of tertiary institutions in Calabar served as subjects of the study. Three research questions were generated to guide the study. A well-structured and validated questionnaire was used to gather information from the subjects. The study revealed that most of the subjects of the study (96%) displayed high knowledge of the effects of physical activities on human health. Level of participation in physical activities was found low, probable reasons deduced for the poor level of participation were enumerated, while suggestions were made on how to raise the level of participation in physical activities to use same to achieve good health/optimum level of well being in the new millennium.

Key words: Utilization, activity, students, tertiary institutions, achievement, good health, new millennium.